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adventurous
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:
Complicated
Ok, I'm obsessed with Arthurian Legends and have been for the majority of my life. That being said there were parts of this book that I knew were going to happen like Mordred's betrayal but with White's writing they were still exciting as they came about in the plot. There is a love triangle but it is resolved mostly by the end of the book which I appreciated since love triangles usually annoy me. Even with the love triangle there were several parts where I was metaphoricall kicking my feet or rolling my eyes at the romantic scenes something I personally enjoy with my romance. I found the relationships extremely well written and organic and enjoyed the liberties that White took to change the traditional Arthurian Legend into something new. I specifically loved tha neither love interest were presente as perfect and that their faults fit in well with their characture. The narration for the audio book was quite good and I don't regret listening to it rather then reading. Overall I loved this book and White's style of writing and can't wait to read the next one.
Content Warnings
Minor: Body horror, Confinement, Misogyny, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent, Murder, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
adventurous
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment
Minor: Vomit, War
I just couldn’t find a reason to care. I was somewhat invested in the mysteries, like Guinevere’s origins, but not enough to muddle through everything else. The romance was insufferable, the characterization inconsistent, the magic system strange, and the plot felt very predictable in a way that made the MC seem dumb when she couldn’t understand some things. Girl, that one’s obviously not a good guy, that one’s obviously not a villain, keep up! I also very recently noticed this switch in myself where stories about young teens going on these epic adventures make me kind of uncomfortable. That is a child! Why is she fighting dragons!
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury
adventurous
emotional
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:
Yes
This book was fun to read! I don’t think it took it in a completely revolutionary direction for the source material, as it fell into the expected beats of Arthurian legend, but a reader who likes Arthuriana and wants something a bit easier than middle english literature would enjoy this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Self harm, Violence, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Infidelity, Rape, Sexism, Excrement, Vomit, War
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Kiersten White’s Camelot is a gorgeous world filled with a lot of lovely characters. The way she plays with the legends is extremely interesting, and her Guinevere is a wonderful protagonist to read about. This is by far my favorite version of Arthur I’ve seen in a retelling, and I’m also very fond of this Lancelot. The characterization of Mordred is great, I wasn’t as big a fan of his storyline though. I’m hoping it’ll grow on me by the time I finish the trilogy.
There’s a lot of potential here both because of the expansive nature of Arthurian legend and the author’s seemingly endless ways of taking what you know and making it into something completely new. Purists may take issue with the many liberties she takes with the material, but they all come together for a really good story. I hope that the sequels will make more of the knights a larger part of the main story.
There’s a lot of potential here both because of the expansive nature of Arthurian legend and the author’s seemingly endless ways of taking what you know and making it into something completely new. Purists may take issue with the many liberties she takes with the material, but they all come together for a really good story. I hope that the sequels will make more of the knights a larger part of the main story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Rape
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Stalking, Toxic friendship
dark
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Deception of Guinevere is an Arthurian telling of life after the sword in the stone. We meeting Guinevere who is a changeling and capable of magic. Sent to protect Arthur and Camelot, but at the price of being a wife and being kept secret due to magic being banned throughout. This retelling doesn't require prior knowledge of Arthur and legends of him which makes it less intimidating.
As you progress throughout this book, its a third person POV from Guinevere in how she deals with the relationships, politics, and society around her while trying to protect Arthur. She as the MC is always on alert and tries to navigate the circles around her. This read is a slow burn, but focuses on how she defines herself, her role, and her battle to know who she is and the secrets of herself, Merlin her wizard teacher, and Camelot.
As you progress throughout this book, its a third person POV from Guinevere in how she deals with the relationships, politics, and society around her while trying to protect Arthur. She as the MC is always on alert and tries to navigate the circles around her. This read is a slow burn, but focuses on how she defines herself, her role, and her battle to know who she is and the secrets of herself, Merlin her wizard teacher, and Camelot.
I believe the this Arthurian retelling is a great perspective from a Women in Power. As legends are often told through the perspective of the winners and through men. As this series progresses, I urge the author to open up either more POV's to include more detail of secondary characters and how they have impacted the story. Such as Mordred and even more detail of Brangien. The twist were amazing, yet it left me wanting. I am hopeful and excited for more world building in the next book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, War
Minor: Sexual violence, Vomit, Kidnapping
adventurous
funny
hopeful
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
Guinevere has come to Camelot to marry King Arthur. Merlin has been exiled along with all other forms of magic. But Guinevere is not Guinevere, and the marriage is a ruse so that not-Guinevere can protect Arthur from a magical attack Merlin warned them of. But magic lives on in secret in Camelot, and Guinevere must determine what—or who—is a threat to the kingdom without her own powers being exposed.
Wow, I loved this book! I initially picked it up because I have always loved myths and legends, and the Arthurian stories hold a special place in my heart because my grandmother (and favorite person!) is named Guinevere. White's writing style was engaging and the magical world-building was fascinating. I really loved the characters; Arthur reminded me of Gansey from The Raven Cycle, and we know I love that archetype, and don't even get me started on Lancelot!! I usually don't care for love triangles, and the one in this book was okay, but the one I foresee (based on what I know of Arthurian legends) coming up in the next book(s) is going to be a tough one (which is to say, not a clear superior choice)!
Happy ending meter (no specific spoilers, just my judgement of how happy the ending is because I always wish someone would tell me that before I read books):Happy-ish, but pretty cliffhanger-y too! I have to wait 3 weeks for the next book, pray that I don't go crazy (or cave and buy the book in the meantime)!
Wow, I loved this book! I initially picked it up because I have always loved myths and legends, and the Arthurian stories hold a special place in my heart because my grandmother (and favorite person!) is named Guinevere. White's writing style was engaging and the magical world-building was fascinating. I really loved the characters; Arthur reminded me of Gansey from The Raven Cycle, and we know I love that archetype, and don't even get me started on Lancelot!! I usually don't care for love triangles, and the one in this book was okay, but the one I foresee (based on what I know of Arthurian legends) coming up in the next book(s) is going to be a tough one (which is to say, not a clear superior choice)!
Happy ending meter (no specific spoilers, just my judgement of how happy the ending is because I always wish someone would tell me that before I read books):
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm, Violence, Kidnapping, Gaslighting
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I am really surprised at how much I liked this book ! I really don't even understand what it is I enjoy so much ? I suppose I just have a thing for an Arthurian tale. I also just loved all the characters and their personalities. Everyone felt different and real, and I don't think I found anyone boring.
There were a few scenes that I thought were out of place or strange.Like King Arthur only being 18, but supposedly had a lover who died giving birth to his child years ago. Like how many years ago are we talking here !?!? It was just kind of a punch in the gut of wtf ?
I'm quite invested in the story though, so I'm definitely planning on continuing the series, and I am so happy to see that the second book is out, and the third one will be published at the end of this year.
There were a few scenes that I thought were out of place or strange.
I'm quite invested in the story though, so I'm definitely planning on continuing the series, and I am so happy to see that the second book is out, and the third one will be published at the end of this year.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Animal death, Violence, Kidnapping
Minor: Vomit
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Kidnapping
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Vomit
Minor: Death, Suicidal thoughts
There is some cutting in this book, not for the purposes of self harm but as part of the magic system. This could be triggering for some readers.