Title: GUINEVERE TRILOGY
Author: Cheryl Carpinello
Publisher: Silver Quill Publishing
Pages: 371
Genre: Middle Grade / Teen / Young YA

GUINEVERE: ON THE EVE OF LEGEND

Princess Guinevere dreaded her upcoming thirteenth birthday. It signaled the beginning of her official role as the Lady of her father’s castle.
No more adventures in the forest with Cedwyn. No more explorations outside the castle walls. No more excitement. No more danger. No more fun.
Cedwyn—her companion for as long as she remembered—viewed her circumstances differently.
A Medieval coming-of-age story relevant today.

GUINEVERE: AT THE DAWN OF LEGEND

Ancient Stones. Mystical Stones. Autumnal Equinox.
Down upon a wide plain the yellow orb shines strong.
Racing side by side, the two laughingly ride.
A mist descends. The laughing stops.
A dangerous Medieval tale of two friends. Of a loyalty not often seen.

GUINEVERE: THE LEGEND

Fiercely loyal, Cedwyn always rushes to Guinevere’s defense. Stubborn to a fault. Always there for her. A future Knight? His one and only hope. A hero? Not what Cedwyn strove for, but it sought him.

Guinevere rarely thinks with her head. Just the opposite. Thinking with one’s heart: a recipe for trouble. And trouble finds Guinevere, all too often. Stubborn, she refuses to abandon those depending upon her. Even when ordered by her father, the king.

And so these two—both on the edge of Legend—barrel forth in this deadly dangerous and riveting Arthurian adventure.

Amazon → https://amzn.to/30jhehD

My Review

I chose to read this book after receiving a free e-copy. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

The characters in this coming of age story are ones that most people are familiar with but this is about Guinevere before she marries Arthur and after Arthur became king.

In Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend, it is obvious that she is stubborn and doesn’t listen to authority. Everyone knows this and it’s mostly tolerated but her father and Merlyn keep warning her that she’s going to have to grow up because she will be queen one day. On her thirteenth birthday, she finds out that she’ll be queen sooner rather than later because her father has promised her hand to King Arthur. I can understand why she is upset when they tell her this, but it was the custom back then so she shouldn’t have been too surprised.

Book one is mostly a fun read, and Guinevere even gets to meet a unicorn! I liked the relationship that Guinevere has with Cedwyn. It’s a close relationship that continues throughout the books.

After the first book is a short story titled Guardian of a Princess about Seren Brenin, Arthur’s warhorse who became Guinevere’s horse and guardian after he was injured in a battle. The injury is described in enough detail that I cringed and cried, and I wonder about younger middle grade readers reading it.

In Guinevere: At the Dawn of Legend, she is 15 but not married because they are at war. She and Cedwyn continue to make questionable decisions and end up putting several children in danger and possibly causing the deaths of some monks. This book has a lot of action and although Guinevere and Cedwyn want things to stay the same, they are realizing that war has changed their lives forever.

The last book, Guinevere: The Legend, is as much about Cedwyn as it is about Guinevere. He’s such a brave young man and takes watching over the children very seriously. It’s full of action, children living in horrible conditions, and has a touch of magic. The trilogy has a good ending but, of course, it’s just the beginning of Arthur and Guinevere’s story.

At the end of the second and third books is more about places and things that were mentioned in the books. It’s obvious that the author did a lot of research and some of that is shared. I learned quite a bit and young readers will enjoy the information as much as I did, I’m sure. There is also a helpful glossary at the end of each book.

At the end of the trilogy, King Arthur’s legend is shared. This I knew but it goes well with the trilogy and it’s worth sharing with those who may not be as familiar with King Arthur. This is definitely a trilogy worth reading for young adults or even old adults like me.

About the Author

Cheryl Carpinello taught high school English for 25 years. During that time, she worked with numerous students who didn’t like to read for a variety of reasons. However, she discovered that even the most reluctant readers became engaged in the classroom and in reading when she introduced units on King Arthur and the works of ancient world writers. Upon retiring, she set out to write fast-paced, action-filled stories in these setting to encourage young readers to read more. When not writing, you can find her reading, spending time with family, and traveling.

Cheryl’s books:

Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend (1)

Guinevere: At the Dawn of Legend (2)

Guinevere: The Legend (3)

Guinevere Trilogy ebook only

The King’s Ransom (Young Knights of the Round Table)

Sons of the Sphinx

Tutankhamen Speaks

Grandma/Grandpa’s Tales 1

Grandma/Grandpa’s Tales 2

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

Website: https://www.cherylcarpinello.com

Blog: carpinelloswritingpages.blogspot.com

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/ccarpinello

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/cheryl.carpinello1

PRAISE

Reader’s Favorite 5-Star: A Gripping Tale.

Guinevere: The Legend is the concluding entry in the Guinevere trilogy by Cheryl Carpinello, a compelling Arthurian tale with strong characters and a story that explores the themes of friendship and loyalty against the backdrop of a society rocked by a crisis. The little children have been kidnapped, and Cedwyn is with them. Guinevere has made a vow to rescue Cedwyn and she leaves home without telling her father, an act that fills her with guilt. But she doesn’t know her bravery might put Cedwyn in harm’s way. She is just fifteen. And eleven-year-old Cedwyn trusts her absolutely, considering her as his queen. He is certain that she’s coming for him and the children. Can she save them from the renegades who hold the children captive? Traveling across the dark waters to the land beyond, Gaul, is perilous. In spite of the grim tales she’s heard from the old wizard Merlyn, will she continue?

This is a beautifully written story with fascinating characters, set in medieval England, and featuring characters of legend like the legendary King Arthur and Merlyn. In this novel, the author deftly develops a tale of adventure that revolves around Guinevere as a young girl and her loyalty to those she loves. The reader encounters her at the very start of the story, poised and on the go, determined to save her friend. Cedwyn is a richly developed young character as well and I enjoyed the way the author develops his friendship and devotion to the protagonist. The writing is filled with strong imagery, including elements of the setting like the rugged landscapes. The author’s unique ability to unveil the strong emotions of the characters and to keep the story realistic is a great addition to the strengths of the novel. The medieval era is reflected in the unique style of conversation and in the beliefs of the characters. Guinevere: The Legend is a gripping tale that keeps the reader turning the pages until the very last one…Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers’ Favorite

Excerpt

Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend

Chapter 1

Hunting

Guinevere stared into the shadows along the edge of the forest. She could hear Cedwyn shifting from foot to foot beside her, unable to stand still. She sighed, the bow of sturdy pine in her hand growing heavier like her heart. Her thirteenth Birth Day was in a few days, but she wasn’t excited. Birth Days were supposed to be fun, but not this year. Not for her, not for a princess.

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