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A review by gggina13
The Camelot Betrayal by Kiersten White
4.0
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an early copy, although I buddy read a finished copy with Samantha and Brandon!
It’s strange, because I’ve rated both books 4 stars so far, but I still think this is a 5 star series as a whole. It’s really rich with visuals and a broad cast of characters, but the characters are so fleshed out and human. It’s super little things, like when Arthur rubs his face after getting stressful news, that make them feel so present in the story. The relationships Guinevere has with the people in her life are so multi-layered. There’s some will-they-won’t-they between her and like, 3 different people (probably two officially but my side ship is valid idc) but they all make sense because they all provide such different things for her. I love when a love triangle makes sense and isn’t there because of the angst but it’s there because genuinely how can you choose? Idk it’s just done quite well imo.
The reason this installment got a star docked was it was just slow. It was very episodic - Samantha rightfully compared it to video game levels - which left plenty of places for me to set it down feeling satisfied with another ending and not rush back to it right away. It’s really character driven even in the midst of the action, which can result in your head swimming from information overload. But none of that takes away from the story. It just didn’t give me the sense of urgency that I like to feel from a book.
Seeing the character development in Guinevere is really special. She doesn’t know who she is even still, so she’s basically making herself into who she wants to be. She gets so much wrong, or at least she thinks she does. That’s the thing about decisions - you never get to see what could have been. And she feels the emotions from being wrong. But she never lets it come in the way of what she needs to do or who she’s becoming and she’s just a really inspiring and brave character even if she doesn’t think she is.
I also have the softest spot for Arthur and how open he can be with communication even while being the biggest fucking idiot himbo on earth. Guinevere’s girl gang is still going long and strong and even growing in numbers and I love them all a lot :’)
Dreading book 3 but also ecstatic for it.......
It’s strange, because I’ve rated both books 4 stars so far, but I still think this is a 5 star series as a whole. It’s really rich with visuals and a broad cast of characters, but the characters are so fleshed out and human. It’s super little things, like when Arthur rubs his face after getting stressful news, that make them feel so present in the story. The relationships Guinevere has with the people in her life are so multi-layered. There’s some will-they-won’t-they between her and like, 3 different people (probably two officially but my side ship is valid idc) but they all make sense because they all provide such different things for her. I love when a love triangle makes sense and isn’t there because of the angst but it’s there because genuinely how can you choose? Idk it’s just done quite well imo.
The reason this installment got a star docked was it was just slow. It was very episodic - Samantha rightfully compared it to video game levels - which left plenty of places for me to set it down feeling satisfied with another ending and not rush back to it right away. It’s really character driven even in the midst of the action, which can result in your head swimming from information overload. But none of that takes away from the story. It just didn’t give me the sense of urgency that I like to feel from a book.
Seeing the character development in Guinevere is really special. She doesn’t know who she is even still, so she’s basically making herself into who she wants to be. She gets so much wrong, or at least she thinks she does. That’s the thing about decisions - you never get to see what could have been. And she feels the emotions from being wrong. But she never lets it come in the way of what she needs to do or who she’s becoming and she’s just a really inspiring and brave character even if she doesn’t think she is.
I also have the softest spot for Arthur and how open he can be with communication even while being the biggest fucking idiot himbo on earth. Guinevere’s girl gang is still going long and strong and even growing in numbers and I love them all a lot :’)
Dreading book 3 but also ecstatic for it.......