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The Excalibur Curse by Kiersten White (Review #234)

WARNING: SPOILER ALERT: IF YOU HAVE NOT GOTTEN THIS FAR IN THE CAMELOT RISING TRILOGY, STOP NOW. DO NOT READ. THIS IS BOOK 3. CHECK OUT THE GUINEVERE DECEPTION FOR THE REVIEW OF BOOK 1, AND THE CAMELOT BETRAYAL FOR BOOK 2!

"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:
“WE WERE SO CLOSE! So close, we trip over the finish line.” - Hades *from the 1997 seminal Disney classic Hercules*

I have never felt the pain of blue balls in my life but I imagine it feels like this. I was invested, I was intrigued, I was cackling with glee at the prospect of changing what seemed to be a very heteronormative fantasy novel and going… somewhere else. Now have I been a Mordred fan from the very beginning???? Of course I have. How could I not???? But Lancelot????? I would walk through FIRE for her. OMG. 

This was a rollercoaster ending. I am all over the place with my feels. Revelations are made, devastating news and wars waged, and in the middle of it all stood a girl. A girl tryna off herself every opportunity she could. UGH!!! I am equally frustrated as I am in love with these books. I will say the female empowerment in this one was fucking awesome. I mean Guinevere really had her own counsel of beloved and complex women in her corner and it was very easy to get excited about that.

Did I get what I wanted though? No, or at least I don’t think I did (unless Guinevere, Lancelot, Arthur, and Mordred get a very spicy fanfic on AO3 or something). But I think I would be lying if I said that I didn’t find anything profound about these books. 

This final book particularly had me looking at the nuance of the human experience. No one is truly evil or truly good, and if Morgana’s shown us anything, it is that we are all struggling to find the right and wrong side within ourselves always. And most importantly that we must see both good and evil in everyone, friends and enemies alike. 

I’m walking away upset, but when that fades, I will think fondly upon Guinevere and her Camelot. And Mordred too; listen I will take him off your hands, Guin, don’t you give it another thought! Anyways, as always, let me know your own thoughts and feels in the comments below! Catch you on the next one!



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