The Excalibur Curse (Camelot Rising #3)
Kiersten White
Delacorte Press
Published December 7, 2021
Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads
About 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?
The gripping conclusion to the acclaimed Arthurian fantasy trilogy from New York Times bestselling author Kiersten White finds Guinevere questioning everything—friends and enemies, good and evil, and, most of all, herself.
My Review
I’ve loved reading this whole series. I love the way it celebrates the Arthurian legend but centers around female characters. There’s really something magical and immersive about it.
If you know me at all, you know I really struggle with third-and-final books in a series. I long for them. I dread them. Too often I put off reading them until the last possible minute. Then I read them, remember all over again why I fell in love with the series or characters, and can’t believe it took me so long to read the book. Which is pretty much what happened here, too.
Guinevere is such a great character. I loved the way she wrestles with finding the balance between protecting the people she loves and giving them respect and autonomy to take the risks they deem appropriate. And the way she faces questions about her own existence and her value.
I love that the story celebrates Arthur’s magnetism and shows his pursuit of being a good king but also acknowledges his flaws. It made him seem like a much more real person than some of the other Arthurian stories that I’ve read in which he seems too much a legend and not enough an actual person.
One of the amazing things about the story really is the way that it’s not just Guinevere’s tale. She builds friendships and relationships with many women around her. They play key roles in the story and in her journey, and I loved how that played out.
All in all, I think this is a great fantasy series, and I’m so glad I read it. I think fans of Leigh Bardugo or Brigid Kemmerer will enjoy this series.
Check out my reviews of the first two books in the Camelot Rising series: THE GUINEVERE DECEPTION and THE CAMELOT BETRAYAL.
Content Notes
Recommended for Ages 14 up.
Representation
Main character has romantic feelings for a man and woman. There are two female side characters in a romantic relationship. Another side character is bisexual.
Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used infrequently.
Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing between man and woman. References to sex between a man and woman and between two women.
Spiritual Content
Some characters have the ability to do magic. The Dark Queen wants to use magic to destroy humanity. Merlin and the Lady of the Lake used a kind of magic to create Camelot.
Violent Content
Battle scenes, situations of peril and some descriptions of death.
Drug Content
Guinevere and another woman drink a truth potion which makes them feel drunk but speak only the truth.
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