Synopsis

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.

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?

Review

4 stars

Thanks for the free book PRH International! I got an advanced reading copy of this book but it has no influence on my review.

I love Arthurian legend and had read with great pleasure the first two books in this series.

The last book certainly did not disappoint even if it took me some time to fall back into the story!

In The Excalibur Curse, we will finally learn who Guinevere is. I was half surprised by the news as I had guessed some of the truth but it still was heartbreaking to learn and put Guinevere with an impossible choice to make!

After being captured by the Picts , Morgana and Mordred, she’ll be lead to meet with the terrible Dark Queen! I confess that the Dark Queen gave me shivers and all I felt was revulsion with her moths, spiders and other creepy crawling creatures! She was a perfect repulsive villain!

 But the Dark Queen is not the only villain here!

Less obvious at first but more lethal, Merlin is far from the hero of the legend! We realize that he has played everyone in his game to accomplish his vision of what Camelot and the island should be.

Using Guinevere in his scheme, burdening Arthur with Excalibur and the task to rule, he has sacrificed many innocents with his plans. I loved that Kiersten White chose to show Merlin not as the savior but as a power-hungry wizard.

What I also loved was Guinevere.

She is fundamentally good to her core. And her goodness will have her shoulder so much guilt. She’d rather sacrifice herself, her needs, her wants if that will help save others.

She is simply impossible not to love. That also gives many possible relationships throughout the series. Will you be team Mordred? Team Arthur? Team Lancelot?  All won’t be happy and I confess that I am sad for one of them who deserved better.

Seeming weak at first sight, it’s her humanity, her love that makes her strong in the end. Being “just a girl” is the most powerful thing in the world in the face of magic.

True to the other two books, women’s role in that instalment was important. It showed that they certainly were not helpless or incompetent creatures and Guinevere truly intended to give them a voice and power. With Lancelot being a woman, joined by another woman warrior, Fina, that series remains an ode to the power of women.

You have danger, secrets, magic, choices, sacrifices, friendship, passion, love and courage in that series!

Very well done Mrs White!

Thanks for reading!

Sophie

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