Ratings16
Average rating3.8
EVERYTHING IS AS IT SHOULD BE IN CAMELOT: King Arthur is expanding his kingdom’s influence with Queen Guinevere at his side. Yet every night, dreams of darkness and unknowable power plague her.
Guinevere might have accepted her role, but she still cannot find a place for herself in all of it. The closer she gets to Brangien, pining for her lost love Isolde, Lancelot, fighting to prove her worth as Queen’s knight, and Arthur, everything to everyone and thus never quite enough for Guinevere–the more she realizes how empty she is. She has no sense of who she truly was before she was Guinevere. The more she tries to claim herself as queen, the more she wonders if Mordred was right: she doesn’t belong. She never will.
When a rescue goes awry and results in the death of something precious, a devastated Guinevere returns to Camelot to find the greatest threat yet has arrived. Not in the form of the Dark Queen or an invading army, but in the form of the real Guinevere’s younger sister. Is her deception at an end? And who is she really deceiving–Camelot, or herself?
Featured Series
3 primary booksCamelot Rising is a 3-book series with 3 released primary works first released in 2019 with contributions by Kiersten White.
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I thoroughly enjoyed The Camelot Betrayal!
Many of the things that bothered me about the first book, The Guinevere Deception, were improved in this one. Primarily, this one didn't just feel like a summary of a story. There was more showing instead of telling, which helps the reader connect to the characters and story exponentially. I hadn't realized how many odd time-jumps and quick lists of everything Guinevere did in the day there were in The Guinevere Deception until I could compare it to this book. It made it easier to be in the book, as well as a more pleasant read.
We also get to know the characters and their relationships a lot better. I love Guinevere and Lancelot's relationship, and it developed so well through the book. I understand why they trust each other, why they are friends. The same with Brangien and Dindrane. And Mordred. The only relationship I feel isn't truly developed is Arthur and Guinevere. I think there's too much reliance on the fact that it's a given they're together because, you know, legend, and not enough showing. Guinevere mentions (a lot) that she felt like she knew Arthur the moment they met, but as the reader, we don't have that magical connection. I know I should like Arthur, but he's just....bland. He's somehow the least interesting character in the entire book.
I think the plot was also better paced in The Camelot Betrayal than The Guinevere Deception. There's still a lot going on, but it's not quite as overwhelming. However, Guinevere's internal monologue was a bit repetitive. I get that she's anguishing over the things she did and trying to figure out who she is, but I started skipping the paragraphs where Guinevere just listed every bad thing she thought she'd done.
Overall, though, The Camelot Betrayal was an enjoyable read that kept me turning the pages. I'm already looking forward to the next book in the series!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I thought this was ok. I didn't like it as much as the first book. The pacing felt off to me and it took away from the story.
Since this is the second book in the series, I won't talk about the plot. I was thinking about rating it 2.5 but bumped it up just because I do really like some of the characters. Brangien is probably my favorite. Sadly, this book just didn't do it for me.
I received a copy from Net Galley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.