The Excalibur Curse

Camelot Rising Trilogy, Book 3

By: Kiersten White

Narrated by: Elizabeth Knowelden

The gripping conclusion to the acclaimed Arthurian fantasy trilogy from New York Times best-selling 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?

©2021 Kiersten White (P)2021 Listening Library

Critic reviews

"Thought-provoking inspiration behind the lives of the women of Camelot, a must purchase." (SLJ)

"Readers will be ensorcelled by the redemptions, revelations, and reconciliations." (Kirkus)

Compelling conclusion

I flew through this final installment of this series because book 2 left us on a precipice of so many outcomes. I enjoyed the summation and resolution of the trilogy but would have liked a little more expediency in reaching the final conflict. Narration was fabulous as always; it adds the perfect ambience for the series.

So good!

Fantastic twist on a timeless story brought to life! Awesome narration by Elizabeth Knowles. Kiersten White weaves a tale that despite many known versions still manages to be incredibly original with enough of the fundamentals that the characters and settings are immediately familiar!

An interesting alternate "mythology"

Guess, dissemble, fail, apologize. Sprinkle liberally with "trust me." Repeat.

The story has borrowed names from history, even the Green Knight in his forest chapel, but the modes of thought and aspirations are firmly in nestled in the 21st century. We can enjoy what life might have been like: if peasants were considered equal beings to nobility; if magic (such as dream communication) was more mechanical and dependable like Skype or FaceTime; if people could imagine pursuing their dreams and finding themselves; if there was a total absence of religious and cultural myth and associated symbols (neither Druid nor Christian); if males were relegated to being merely the object of "female gaze". Very comfortable reading in the 2020s indeed. On the other hand, the level of witchery-with-treachery probably explains why subsequent centuries embarked on witch hunts.
I did enjoy more the stories of White (T.H.) and the original Gawain tale. And most of the works of Marion Zimmer Bradley.

Brilliant Narration

Bring the tissues and your favorite treat. You're going to need them. This has both enriched and bleached my heart. So much love and dispear, plotting and planning and stunningly brilliant realizations are lovingly crafted into this memorable tale. It's epic and it's so much grander than it's predecessors. This is the Arthurian legend that should always have been told!

Guinevere has my heart, like all of it. She desires to do the right thing, and sometimes the way forward is covered in brambles and briar. But always, it's her wish to save the island and it's people. It's ingrained into her make-up. She is the perfectly imperfect character that you're going to adore.

I have to say the twist of Lancelot's gender was vastly intriguing. It made for a lot of whats ifs and what could bes. And it's my belief that this spectacular author created a version that is easy to champion.

Arthur has my heart as well. Who doesn't want him to have his queen's heart? He was just a boy trying to rule an kingdom when so much was against him. And having magical influenced that had unsavory intentions was never going to serve him well.

The last part of a trilogy

I’m glad I got to read the book right after finishing the second part. It would have been really hard to wait :) It is well worth listening to and the narrator does a really nice job.

There was nothing wrong with the story in itself. However, I couldn’t relate to Guinevere’s main goal and the emotional ties between some of the main characters didn’t resonate with me.

love it!

loved this book and the retelling!! I actually got the front symbol tattooed on me!

It was a pretty good ending

I found myself bored through some parts of this story. It wasn't bad at all but it wasn't great either. I'm not sure about the ending but as long as everyone is happy I guess that's all that matthers

I enjoyed this

the ending seemed a bit rushed to me but it was a lovely book

Unique Retelling of a Classic

I have such mixed feelings. I really enjoyed the unique perspective while at the same time I had such a hard time with how foolish Guinevere is in the story. With each book of the trilogy she becomes more irrational, reckless, and foolish. Arthur is such a non entity with 1/3 to 1/2 of the story is just repeated sulking, guilt, and remorse that could have been used to give more character development for Arthur and Lancelot providing them with depth. These two characters were flat and symbolic more than they were characters and did nothing to move the story forward. It was actually very annoying and at times made me upset and to some degree bored. BUT the actual story is unique and very creative so I do recommend it.

Loved it

Great adaptation of the Camelot story- empowering to the Guinevere character and creative in ways to illustrate that history is made by not men alone but as partners. That women are often leaders, hidden by those who write history, that drive for change.