Princess Guinevere has come to Camelot to wed a stranger: the charismatic King Arthur. With magic clawing at the kingdom's borders, the great wizard Merlin conjured a solution--send in Guinevere to be Arthur's wife, and his protector from those who want to see the young king's idyllic city fail. The catch? Guinevere's real name--and her true identity--is a secret. She is a changeling, a girl who has given up everything to protect Camelot.
... such a stunning read, rending the legend of Arthur back to life through the eyes of Guinevere herself. Never have I been more mesmerised by the way Kiersten White wove her words together and readers will fall in love with each and every character they encounter, even the villains. It’s a special quality that Kiersten has, loving our tenderly vicious villains ... Though her entire life is shrouded in secrets, even ones she doesn’t understand, I loved how Kiersten navigated each facet of Guinevere. Not only that, but it extended outside of Guinevere as Brangien and Dindrane were just as formidable female characters ... this is one of the few stories where I’ve loved most every character I’ve met, and I truly wished to have more time with them despite getting to spend over 300 pages with our character cast ... My favourite part of this story was the romances. They’re tender and sweet, and full of this swelling passion ... The story has a lyrical quality to it that I can’t quite explain, only that it flowed along so well that I couldn’t put it down. Though the story possesses the tendrils of darkness that are hoping to through Camelot into chaos, there’s definitely an overall tone of hope ... I can’t find anything to complain about. This story has laid out a solid foundation to continue, and Guinevere is a formidable young woman. I’m so excited to find out more about her in the next book.
... takes the familiar trappings of Arthurian legend and spins them into an earthy fantasy ... As an enthusiast of Kiersten White's recent female-centric horror classic reimaginings, I was very curious to see what she would do with a more fantasy-centric mythos, especially one so dear to my heart ... It's therefore pretty remarkable that The Guinevere Deception pleasantly surprised me with many of its choices without ever stepping too clumsily on the toes of its source material. We've gotten Guinevere's point of view before, but the idea that she is an impostor, sent in the real Guinevere's place, feels like a fresh approach ... Certain characters are gender-swapped, traditional storylines are shifted for LGBT reveals, and the concept of consent is explored intriguingly if not deeply ... One of my favorite aspects of the world that White has created is the practical feeling of her magic ... In general, the places where The Guinevere Deception falls back on heavily explored tropes and themes are where my attention drifted ... In some ways, I almost wish that this story had left its Arthurian inspirations behind and committed to being its own unique fantasy, free from all the traditional baggage and spoilers. That said, for someone less familiar with the hundreds of other adaptations that have come before it, The Guinevere Deception will offer an enjoyable and even thoughtful entry into a mythos that has obsessed us for generations.
... weaves together all the familiar characters of legend and lore, but adds a dash of unexpected revision that keeps the tale fresh. Its magic and intrigue are perfect for readers who revel in this realm of myth and fantasy. White seamlessly introduces nuanced and compelling female characters into the world of Camelot, while also maintaining the wondrous spirit of the original Arthurian legends, making The Guinevere Deception a truly enchanting read.
