THE EXCALIBUR CURSE (CAMELOT RISING TRILOGY), by Kiersten White, Delacorte Press, Dec. 7, 2021, Hardcover, $18.99 (young adult)
Kiersten White’s fantastic Camelot Rising trilogy with Guinevere at the center comes to a close in The Excalibur Curse.
While journeying north toward the Dark Queen, Guinevere falls into the hands of her enemies. Behind her are Lancelot, trapped on the other side of the magical barrier they created to protect Camelot, and Arthur, who has been led away from his kingdom, chasing after false promises. But the greatest danger isn’t what lies ahead of Guinevere — it’s what’s been buried inside her.
Vowing to unravel the truth of her past with or without Merlin’s help, Guinevere joins forces with the sorceress Morgana and her son, Mordred — and faces the confusing, forbidden feelings she still harbors for him. When Guinevere makes an agonizing discovery about who she is and how she came to be, she finds herself with an impossible choice: fix a terrible crime, or help prevent war.
Guinevere is determined to set things right, whatever the cost. To defeat a rising evil. To remake a kingdom. To undo the mistakes of the past…even if it means destroying herself.
Guinevere has been a changeling, a witch, a queen — but what does it mean to be just a girl? —Synopsis provided by Delacorte Press
Two years ago, author Kiersten White introduced readers to a new version of Camelot. A Camelot where Guinevere takes center stage and Arthur and Lancelot are supporting players.
Guinevere is a changeling created by Merlin to secretly protect Arthur. The Guinevere Deception opens with Guinevere’s entrance into court. The Camelot Betrayal follows Guinevere as she struggles to fit into her role while keeping her origins a secret. And everything comes to a head in The Excalibur Curse.
The Camelot Rising trilogy must be read in order. And if you have read the first two books already, rereading them again before picking up The Excalibur Curse is a good idea. You’ll miss the finer nuances if you don’t.
White excels at pacing throughout the trilogy, maintaining an excellent ebb and flow that adds to the tension and propels the story forward. And at the center of all the action is a group of women — good, bad and in between — who use their various skills to make change and push forward what they believe to be right.
This is an excellent series full of magic, mystery and finding love in unexpected places. It’s the best-developed imaging of the King Arthur myth I’ve ever read.
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