A fun and engaging take on Arthurian legend that gives you a perfect leading lady.

Adventure, mystery, slow burn romance, betrayal, and bonds of friendship that will warm your heart.

This was a beautifully written retelling of Arthur, Guinevere, and the knights of Camelot. It was full of adventure, magic, and romance, and I could not put it down. I am not a reader who typically enjoys time travel stories, but this had me hooked from the first few pages.

The chemistry not just between Guinevere and Arthur, but between the entire supporting cast was so much to read, and the elements of humor were perfectly balanced with more emotional moments. I loved reading Guinevere's and seeing the change and growth she experienced throughout the book.

The ending had me on the edge of my seat, and I'm so ready for the next book in the series to find out what happens next!!

Thank you to the author, Netgalley, and Avalon Books for the advanced copy. Looking forward to more of this series!

<i><b> "Forever grateful to Paula Lafferty and her beautiful mind for creating a debut novel that has established permanent residency inside my head!!"</b></i>

<b>One Line Review:</b> Is everything that surrounds us actually what it seems? OR, ORRRR…!!! Could we actually be Queens from another time, enchanted to forget our power and magic, but inevitably destined to save the world we’ve been charmed to have forgotten? When I tell you this book weaved some kind of mystical spell on me and refuses to let go, even at this very moment…

<b>Synopsis:</b> Vera is trying to navigate the tumultuous road that exists after losing her boyfriend and the mundane life that is working as a hotel housekeeper day in and day out (speaking from personal experience here, working in a hotel in any capacity has it’s definite negatives.) Her life is never the same after someone pays her a visit from another century, proclaiming that SHE, Vera, is actually Queen Guinevere. With absolutely no memory of this, she begins the journey of uncovering the clues that lead her to who she may truly be, all while trying to save her kingdom and it’s people.

<b>My Thoughts:</b> Where do I even start with how much I loved this book… I backed the Kickstarter campaign as soon as it opened and have absolutely adored following along with Paula’s journey as she navigated the countdown to her publish date. All of the fun of that aside, I recall a time that a book has occupied as much space in my brain as this one has, consistently, even after I read the last pages over a month ago. I am working my way into the fantasy realm of books, and if every one of them is like THIS, I might just be a fantast girly after all!!

I thought the first 1/3 of this was PERFECT but then it got really convoluted and dramatic. I wanted it to stay feeling rom-com-y like the first third. Didn't find the romance believable at all - Arthur wasn't giving much in terms of personality.

I really really enjoyed this book. It was a fresh take on the Arthurian legend with well written characters and a compelling storyline. This is a superb debut novel by Paula Lafferty. Bonus points for portraying modern day Glastonbury properly, clearly the author has visited or researched very well!

I could see the direction the narrative was going and did guess a few of the twists at the end but I was engaged and immersed in the story. I really hope there will be a book 2 because that ending was excellent!

Arthur did start off a bit of an ass but he redeemed himself. Vera was funny and strong and had a really good relationship with the knights. I did love how Vera still kept in touch with her modern roots but adapted well to Arthurian times.

Overall great characters, a good storyline and well paced. There are still a few unexplained bits that I hope are addressed in book 2 (if there will be a book 2!).

Thanks to the author for an ARC of this book.

I will probably add more to this review when I have processed the ending of this book!

Very unique story! The time-travel element made me nervous about picking up this book but I really enjoyed it. I loved the deep connections between the characters that sprung up as the story went. The (platonic!) relationship between Lancelot and Vera was one of my favorite parts. The worldbuilding was cool, the hints at the legend, the tension and conflicts all came together. This was a version of Camelot I really liked.
Way to overcome the ghost of BBC Merlin and make me love an Arthurian legend!
Mild warning: not a standalone like I thought and I would really like book two now.

I finished this book a few weeks ago, and it’s still so hard to find words for how much I absolutely love the story. Paula is writing is beautiful, the characters all spoke to me in so many ways and I felt all the emotions. Easily one of my top reads of the year!

I am not too familiar with Arthurian lore, I only know some of the basics, so I cannot compare the stories. It's like I've met most of these characters for the very first time. I daresay, I understand how Vera felt about not having prepared for her quest, lore-wise. I do not say this in a bad way though, as Paula Lafferty does not require the reader to have any prior knowledge of the legends to enjoy this story.

But let's start at the beginning. While the revelation of Vera's true identity as well as her transportation into the past all happen rather quickly, I still feel like we didn't necessarily need more time in the present. Lafferty gives us enough context throughout the story to learn of Vera's feelings towards the future, her parents and Vincent.

I love the way that Vera adjusts to medieval life. It makes sense that her modern day values are too 'new' for the past, and she does struggle because of it. I think that is very realistic and makes absolute sense in the context of the story. I especially love how close she becomes with Lancelot. He truly is a pillar of support for her, and it feels like he is what she truly needs: a good friend. I adore that her life in the past does not solely revolve around Arthur. She does have a life outside of Arthur's existence and Lafferty portrays that beautifully. Very feels like an actual person with thoughts and feelings that are more than just her feelings for the MMC, which I really like.

Talking about Arthur, Vera's relationship with him is very confusing, but not in a bad way. It's a constant push and pull, and Merlin's meddling doesn't help. What about their attraction is real, and what is only brought about by magic? Lafferty does a good job at blurring the lines, and I guess we will only find out the truth in a future book. (Please, I need answers! xD)

Which leads me to the end of the story. How can Lafferty leave us with a cliffhanger like that? I need the next book in my hands right now! While most of the book is rather slow-paced, the last few chapters give us revelation after revelation. The end is especially action-packed which stands in stark contrast to the previous chapters. I really enjoyed that change in pace. Both parts of the book serve a purpose and I believe that Lafferty's pacing serves the story she is telling very well.

Overall, I truly enjoyed the book and cannot wait for the next one to come out. This was a solid 3.5 star read for me, rounded up because I have high expectations for the book(s?) to come! Paula Lafferty is truly an author to look out for. :)

La Vie de Guinevere is the first book in a series following Guinevere from her life in modern day back to seventh century Camelot. How can she possibly be Queen Guinevere, and why does Camelot look different from what little she knows from stories? Guinevere unravels mystery after mystery to piece together what happened before her reappearance. I loved these characters wholeheartedly, and I will absolutely continue the series. I did struggle a tiny bit with the length/pacing at times, but there was always an exciting chapter immediately following those times.

Perfect for fans of immersive fantasies or Arthurian retellings.

I received an ARC from Paula Lafferty | Avalon Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve been following Paula for quite some time and I’ve been looking forward to this book for so long and it did NOT disappoint!! From the characters, to the banter, to the tension, and everything in between. This story was such a fresh take on the Arthurian legend we all know and love. I especially loved the back and forth with connecting old ancient times with modern references. I also loved all of the layers to the plot. The reveals throughout the story had me gasping and truly kept me on my toes!

Vera is such a fantastic FMC and unexpected in so many ways. She is strong, rebellious, and not about to let those around her dictate her outcomes. The relationships she found throughout the book were done so well. I really loved how fun, easy, and beautiful her relationship was with Lancelot and how tension filled, difficult, and yet equally beautiful her relationship was with Arthur. Vera is such an easy character to root for and I cannot wait to see what the next book has in store for her.

Arthur and Lancelot are both truly so unexpected and I LOVED IT! These characters are so similar and yet so so different from how we know them to be. Paula truly did a beautiful job of showcasing the characters we loved while still making them her own. I don’t want to say too much to avoid any possible spoiling but just trust me when I say these characters were truly so well done!

You can truly tell so much love and care was poured into this book and I’m so excited for it to be out and for everyone to check it out. Huge thank you to Paula for allowing me to be an ARC reader! I cannot wait for my Kickstarter editions to come in🤭

Thank you so much for the arc, here’s my honest review!

Oh my goodness gracious this book was INCREDIBLE. I was kicking my feet and squealing during every chapter while reading this book. Paula put so much care into this retelling and it payed off!

The characters are easily my favorite part of this book. Vera was someone who I could root for and while she made some silly decisions, I couldn’t hate her for making them. I do wish her memory storyline furthered before the end of the novel, but other than that, I loved her and her POV. Arthur… I am in LOVE with him. Literally every single interaction or line he had made me swoon. He was the absolute best character and I feel so many emotions towards him, he truly went through it but that made him one of the best characters here. The others that get notable mentions are Lancelot, the fiercely loyal best friend, and Gawain, the extraordinary weirdo mage. They both add so much life to this story and I love them both so much too.

As for plot, I love how Paula put so many modern twists in the story. Even things as simply as rock paper scissors and poker being the round table is truly such a unique and wonderful way to retell this tale. Her magic system is something I haven’t read before and while at times it got a tiny touch confusing, particularly at the end, she still managed to justify it within the world and create a cohesive story following it. I found the magic super interesting and cannot wait to see how it will unfold in book 2.

My only complaint is that this book ended too soon with too little resolve. It was less cliffhanger and more just an abrupt stop in momentum. That being said this book was 5/5 stars and I will be DYING until I get the next book. 🫶

I was hooked when I stumbled upon this author and her book on Instagram. This book did not disappoint! The idea, the plot, the writing, the characters- all so good. I had to sit for a few days to let it all sink in. I need more books like this in my life. Note: this is not a complete retelling of King Arthur and Camelot; these points were used as background. I recommend this book if you like romantasies.

A tale of magic, knights, found family, and romance.

This is a fantastic take on the Arthurian legends. Paula Lafferty has created a very well-written debut. I quite enjoyed the characters and the world-building. The pacing was fairly good, although I felt the opening was slightly rushed. I'm really curious to see where the author will take this story next.

Note that there is quite a bit of swearing in this book. This is one of the reasons it ended up being a 4/5 stars for me.

Thank you to Paula, and Netgalley for allowing me to read an ARC copy.

I really enjoyed this book. The writing is straightforward and easy to read, and the characters are full of depth. I enjoyed the world-building, and the magic system. I did find the pacing at times was off for me. Some parts I wish were drawn out with more detail, while others felt a tad slow. Arthur and Vera's relationship was a struggle for me as well, as I struggled to connect with Arthur, and he seemed very wishy-washy.

Overall a good cozy read.

This book was enjoyable and surprising from the beginning. While generally not something I would have normally picked up I was glad I gave it a chance. The story was a unique twist on the classic King Arthur story we all passively know and had some beautifully written characters and settings to draw you in. This will be a powerful debut for its author and I’m excited to see what she brings us next after reading this one.

I’ve been following this author since her Kickstarter went viral last year. Paula seems genuine and her journey to self-publishing is inspiring. I was excited and nervous to read her book. Nervous because I already liked her as a person and I really hoped I’d like her novel.

Fortunately for me, this one is a winner. I enjoyed this story. I enjoyed her depiction of grief, acceptance and self-confidence. My mind kept racing with ideas of where this series could go as I read it.

I’ve read several Arthurian retellings. This one is one of the better ones. My main pit with the novel was the length. Felt like it was a tad too long. Overall, it’s really good and I’m excited for the next one.

Thanks to NetGalley and Paula for an ARC.

I am stunned!!! This book was so fun and unique and I loved it!

I love European history and the way it blended with fantasy was so so fantastic, I couldn’t put the book down!!

This book has me at a loss for words!! This was the most phenomenal Guinevere and King Arthur retelling!! It had me feeling all the emotions, sobbing in places and laughing with the great banter in others. This unique version had me guessing at the twists and turns, and will have me forever questioning what could have happened!!

5⭐️ 0.5🌶️

An adventure for the reader as well as Vera! The conjunction between myth and past reality was a fun line to dance on as this story unfolded. The author did an amazing job of slowly uncovering clues that would lead the reader down a new thread in the mysterious web of Vera’s life.

I felt every emotion reading this, and cannot tell you how many times I used my green annotation tabs indicating “interesting” lines and moments that ended up being important foreshadowing.

What a fun, grand adventure!

Cannot wait for book 2!

*I did not go into this assuming it would be romantasy so it didn’t affect my rating, however, Arthur felt like more of a side character which was a bit odd since he was the love interest. Would like to see more depth and chemistry between the two in the next book for believability.

•Arthurian retelling
•Time Travel
•Memory Loss
•Magic & Mages
•Slow Burn

I was lucky enough to be granted an ARC for this book, after following Paulas journey through social media, I just knew I had to read this book as soon as I could, and it was everything I wanted and more out of a book! I haven’t felt this connected to a story in a long time! Aside for the phenomenal creation of an Arthurian world that is so rich in its description and beauty, Paula has truly created some characters who feel like real people! The beautifully woven story has such depth you just wanted to step right into those pages and experience the world for yourself! The way she has written the world is just beautiful.

There are many stories where the premise sounds fantastic but then you read them and they don’t live up to your expectations, well ‘La Vie de Guinevere’ blows that completely out of the water! This story is unique and nothing like what I have read before. It managed to pull on every heartstring and I just adore the entire experience of reading this book.

The relationships between the characters was my favourite part of this story, the way that Paula has taken the well know story of Arthur, Guinevere and Lancelot and really made it her own. The relationships feel real and grounded. There is a beauty and sincerity to these characters which make you want to know everything about them. Vera is a fantastic protagonist and along with a cast of wonderfully written main and side characters you can’t help but love them!

The twists and turns of the story keep you wanting to read on and not put it down! This book had me laughing, crying, gasping and all round loving my time spent reading this masterpiece. And a fantastic cliff hanger to boot to get you excited for the second instalment, And now we patiently wait for book 2…. A truly spectacular debut novel. A 5/5 read for me.