Whimsical, enthralling, and so utterly captivating!!

Usually the narration is better than the story or story is better than the narration, less often than not, are they in total sync. HOWEVER TGD is one of the best audios I’ve listened to since The Night Circus.

I was immersed in the world of Camelot with familiar and new characters of a story from my childhood with the best kind of twists.

I fell in love with all the characters all ranging from the heroic to the deceptively villainous and cannot wait for the sequel!

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The Guinevere Deception

After Arthur’s defeat of The Dark Queen, magic in all forms was banished from Camelot. Meaning, Merlin was banished from Camelot. However, this does not solve all problems as the wizard has foreseen the rise of evil once again.

So, Merlin sends in Guinevere who, in his stead, will wed Arthur and become his Queen, in order to remain close to protect him and root out the evil brewing beneath Camelot’s surface.

But who really is this girl that Merlin has sent as savior? As Guinevere searches for the threats to Camelot, she’ll uncover more secrets hidden within, secrets that, if discovered, could mean the end to everything Arthur has built.

This is the second Arthurian legend retelling I’ve read this year. Although the two are wildly different in scope, I love the fact that Arthurian legend is so easily manipulated and molded. It’s a veritable treasure trove of varying accounts of this knight or that knight or this love or that love. In the hands of someone like Kiersten White who is no stranger to retellings, it becomes a magical story about a girl finding her power, finding her voice.

I loved the idea of deception. Of who is being deceived and who is committing the deception. At first seemingly believing the deception lies with Guinevere who is magic in a magicless world. It’s easy to see and identify this deception, but as Kiersten White’s story unassumingly and slowly unfolds seeing the twists of other deceptions that Guinevere couldn’t even comprehend was a treat and just signals how tangled Arthurian Legend really is.

Probably the one thing that was difficult for me to reconcile with was the idea of how young everyone is. Guinevere is sixteen, Arthur eighteen yet there’s so much talk about his quests, battles and victories that have themselves already been turned into the things of legends. It’s hard to see an eighteen year old boy (young man) taking on this mantle, but I think it’s also a great way of showing how much pressure Arthur is under, the kingdom he’s built and responsible for, the tough decisions he will always have to make.

Struggles with identity is a common thread throughout the story, and something that I’m assuming will proceed in books to come. Guinevere holds the title of Queen but she doesn’t identify as a Queen. She doesn’t know what her role is exactly besides the rather cryptic protector of Arthur. But protecting Arthur would also extend to protecting Camelot because they are basically one and the same. It’s an interesting quandary and I can’t wait to see how it continues to unfold.

Kiersten White applies this same theory to pretty much every other character in the story. If you’re familiar with anything Arthurian you know who all the players are, but I daresay you’ll be surprised and maybe even delighted with some of the twists thrown in and what they might mean down the road.

While the legend of Arthur undoubtedly has its romance, I was really happy that there was more focus placed on Guinevere herself. Guinevere does wonder at certain moments where her relationship with Arthur may eventually lead – by the end I think she hopes it turns into love – but there’s a lot less angst about the whole thing, and there’s still that undeniable base connection.

The Guinevere Deception is a really good introduction to an already familiar world that just so happens to pull out some unexpected surprises that keep the story fresh.

The narration by Elizabeth Knowelden was wonderful. She managed to give distinctive voice to each character without overdoing it, especially in regard to the male voices which I have found some female narrators have problems with (this is does apply to the reverse as well, I've listened to audio where the male narrators have issue with female voices). Her pacing was great and she was very clear in speaking. I look forward to finding other titles she has narrated before.

3 people found this helpful

Not what I expected

From the very beginning the book caught my attention when honestly I’m not really into old timely medieval novels. Tho I enjoy Arthurian legends and this one had many twist and turns. And how well interwoven the story was.

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clever.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. a good twist on a classic tale. I devoured it and honestly can not wait for the next one ! A must listen to.

1 person found this helpful

Easy listen.

The pace was steady and the book was enjoyable. The voice was also soothing!

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What a way to start 2020!

I enjoyed this so much! I switched between the book and the audiobook, and I loved experiencing this story both ways.

I love the twist that this story had, and the way Guinevere was told. I admire her as a heroine, with the strength and abilities that she has.

And that ending? Eep! I definitely cannot wait for more.

I enjoyed the narrator so much. Perfect tone and nuances in voice. such an enjoyable reading experience.

1 person found this helpful

This book got me hooked on fantasy audiobooks.

Elizabeth Knoweldon is amazing - probably one of my favorite narrators. And Kiersten White’s writing is amazing. A magical combination.

A Great start to an epic journey

Wow, I finished this book and hungered for more. This book takes me back to my university days reading the Morte de Arte. Slight spoilers in this review, but I'm embraced by the world and serves as inspiring ideals for my own writing.

White chose perfectly for making The Queen, Not Queen a Changeling which is symbolic for those that know what Changelings are capable of and the context of them. Guinevere's struggle to live a dual life is more the struggle than Arthur not ending the Dark Queen. While Forbidding and ominous, I felt she was not a threat at all, more so a plot device to assist the true antagonist, Guinevere's mind. How can one girl hold on to such beliefs yet be a strong protagonist that White does not mary sue or make her the chosen one, yet she's magically powerful. I think Draining her magic in This first act but only giving the readers a taste of what she is truly capable of is great plot device of showing readers/listeners a strong character lead. Guinevere's actions make her more of a arcane trickster with a bit for power and the description of the spells is rather interesting and telling based on the materials and components used to cast spells in this world.

I have to give myself a day to relax before I dive in to the next book of the Camelot Rising series. White is a fantastical story teller and paired with Knowelden was a perfect resonance that captivated my ears listening to Guinevere as I felt myself in her shoes the entire time.

Wow! WOW! Wow!

I love the story of Camelot, so when I was browsing and found this book series I was hooked from the cover, from the book details, & wow!!!!
Kiersten White it blew me away!
This is my new most favorite escape! 😍😍

could have been an hours story

over detailed with no use to the story line, no consistency in characters and the fawning over Arthur was just too much. we get it. he's perfect... not worth the credit