The Camelot Betrayal

Camelot Rising Trilogy, Book 2

By: Kiersten White

Narrated by: Elizabeth Knowelden

Length: 11 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's Summary

The second book in a new fantasy trilogy from New York Times best-selling author Kiersten White, exploring the nature of self, the inevitable cost of progress, and, of course, magic and romance and betrayal so epic Queen Guinevere remains the most famous queen who never lived.

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 the people around her - 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?

©2020 Kiersten White (P)2020 Listening Library

Filler book the next one should be great.

This felt exactly like a filler for me. Guinevere was extremely naive which meant no character growth. She hasn't learned her lesson yet or even tryed to figure out who she is. Guinevere again and again tells you that something is wrong with her memory she is not who everyone says she is but in no way seeks answers. Just blindly follows King Arthur. Honestly starting to dislike her. Though I do enjoy Guinevere's curiosity which in some how makes me even worse that she doesn't dig into her own life.

Analyzing Arthur and Guinevere's relationship I got a real Tamlin and Feyre vibe. How Guinevere could even consider him after all the oppression of women crap astounds me. She isn't using her brain and seems to thrive on conflict.

Sorry if most of this is whinging but I do love the story, the characters, and the magic. But this book flowed around the important issues and left out one of my favorite characters whos most appearances where in dreams. Although the friendships in this book make me so proud. They are how they should be everyone more worried about their sister than they are of themselves. Sir Lancelot is a friend I would wish to be. The best thing about this book was it was filled with strong women and even threw in some LGBT in the remix which is a big plus.

So my main annoyance is that it felt as though the main discussions that should have been addressed throughout this book where pushed aside. I started daydreaming and not really caring about the goings on because it seemed like a distraction from real life. I understand we needed to see more clearly of what was going on but that could have been concluded in half the time.

Honestly unless Mordred's name was mentioned I barely cared. The sister was a nice twist I have to admit even though I wanted to ring her little neck like sisters do. So things became interesting again until again they weren't. I don't feel like this is a spoiler at all because Mordred has that feel of someone misunderstood. Yet Guinevere throws him to the wolves again and again. She doesn't deserve him I'm not sure what she deserves. Nothing right now until she gets her head out of her @ss.

The Author's writing is easy to read and the cover is lovely. Also again Elizabeth Knowelden did a great job narrating. But I think the next book will be more to my liking since it seems like I have been drug through the mud with this one. Really that ending though. I feel like I should have just started reading from there and my respect for Guinevere would still be alive.

P.s. Mordred she doesn't deserve you.
P.p.s. call me

ALREADY WAITING FOR THE THIRD BOOK!

Ahhh I’m already waiting for the 3rd book to come out. WHEN WILL IT BE RELEASED?!

I love the spin on the Arthurian legends and characters.

And I really, really love Mordred. (And someone else needs to also admit to herself that she loves him too and say it out loud.) Seriously though.. all the parts with him in this book made me cry lol.

I wasn’t sure I’d be able to continue listening to the narrator after a few minutes into the first book.. but after a few chapters it seemed like she worked out her reading style, and Elizabeth Knowelden has become one of my favorite narrators.
She has a very soothing voice lol. I love that she doesn’t try to go over the top with extra deep voices for men. I also love that her women’s character voices are different from her story narration voice. She’s great with all the different inflections and nuances needed for the writing style in this book.

THE ENDING… OMG

The story did kinda drag at the beginning/middle but the sister coming in was a thrilling surprise! Mordred is still my favorite character and no one can steer me differently 😂😂
Keep going with this one, the ending was worth it!

Plot twists: cheaper in bulk?

With just about everyone taking a turn at deception, hot rocks and truth serums are our last line of defense. But even that depends on us being able to trust the narrator. As White says earlier, reality is based on stories. In this trilogy we are going listen to a variety of stories (Canterbury), each "correcting" what came before. What to believe? I am willing to suspend my disbelief that this woman (who does not know that children lose teeth or what monthly blood means) can be incredibly insightful, resourceful, and lustful at a mere 16. But having listened to most of book 3 already, I am ready to believe that I have no idea what reality is in this story. I do wish that if there are to be plot twists, then a rereading would uncover clues that were missed the first time. So far I am coming up empty; that is, plot twists just seem to happen randomly. The unknown 14th century author of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight was a bit more clever in this regard.

beautiful and well done!

I absolutely loved this book I can't wait for to listen to the third one!

Superb

I don’t think I’ve ever given a 5-star review. I think that this trilogy is Y/A, but it is dimensional and layered and sophisticated. White writes beautifully. The premise is the strength of the women in Camelot, and the strength that they find when they help each other. The narration was perfect. I will miss the characters, who are developed skillfully. I really loved this series.

Best book about Camelot ever!

Best book about Camelot ever! Would recommend this read to anyone any age it is enthralling and I can’t wait for the third one!

a MUST read for any Arthur fans!

White knows how to spin a tale so well, you will be turned upside down and inside out before you get past the first chapter. She throws curve balls at you from all sides, and changes the way you will think about history.

The Camelot Betrayal leaves you with a cliff hanger (as does the first in this series), and White does a fantastic job of leaving you wanting more! Well done Ms. White! I will read ANYTHING you publish if you keep it at this level!

Loved it!

A wonderful sequel! I love Kiersten White’s writing and Elizabeth Knowelden does a wonderful job bringing all of the characters to life!

This girl knows how to end a book on a cliffhanger

Kirsten White has done it again. The page turner with twists and turns you've been looking for.

Falling for the narrator !

Simply amazing. Love the storyline. Beautifully narated. 5 freakimg stars. Can't wait for book 3