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The Once and Future Queen
The Lives of Guinevere (Related to this series)
- Author
- Paula Lafferty
- Narrator
- Julia Whelan
- Publisher
- Hodder & Stoughton
- Publish Date
- 3 April 2025
- Run Time
- 16 hours 17 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
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What to expect
After the sudden death of her boyfriend, Vera is content to fade into the background, washing sheets and cleaning bathrooms in a Glastonbury hotel. But when a mysterious guest reveals himself as Merlin and whisks her back to seventh-century Camelot, everything changes. He insists she's not just Vera, she's Guinevere, and only she can undo the curse draining the kingdom's magic and save Camelot from the will of a power-hungry mage.
There's just one problem: Vera remembers nothing of her past life. And with Camelot teetering on the edge of collapse, time is running out.
As Merlin works to restore her memories, Vera uncovers a tangled history of betrayal, power, and heartbreak. Why does King Arthur recoil at her presence? What truly happened the night the curse was cast? And why does every answer feel like it's tearing her in two?
In a kingdom built on legend, Vera must decide who she is, before the past destroys the future.
Critics Review
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Lafferty successfully weaves together multiple genres in this story of King Arthur's time as seen through the eyes of a modern-day Guinevere. Like Vera, the reader does not have to be an expert on Arthurian legend to follow the story. The fresh takes on legendary characters and propulsive plot twists make this a page-turner that will leave readers hoping for a sequel. An original and fascinating take on the romance of Arthur and Guinevere
Kirkus (Starred Review)
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Paula Lafferty crafts a unique and deeply romantic take on Arthurian legend with a modern twist. The Once and Future Queen brings readers along on an empowering, whimsical adventure into the mythical and magical past, through the courts of King Arthur and the beauty of the English landscape, with the relatable Vera as their guide.
Marielle Thompson, author of The Last Witch in Edinburgh
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Lafferty's prose casts a magic spell as she takes Arthurian legend somewhere fresh and completely unexpected. Her Camelot is deeply romantic, layered with secrets and surprises, and incredibly fun. Long live the queen!
Amy S. Kaufman, author of The Traitor of Sherwood Forest
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An entirely new and entirely riveting Arthurian retelling, with a wonderfully relatable Guinevere at its heart! A fantastic read!
Sarah Beth Durst, New York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop
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Lafferty's prose casts a magic spell as she takes Arthurian legend somewhere fresh and completely unexpected. Her Camelot is deeply romantic, layered with secrets and surprises, and incredibly fun. Long live the queen!
Amy S. Kaufman, author of The Traitor of Sherwood Forest
User Reviews
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Details
- Author
- Paula Lafferty
- Narrator
- Julia Whelan
- Duration
- 16 hours 17 minutes
- Release Date
- 3 April 2025
- ISBN
- 9781399746014
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Hodder & Stoughton
- Genre
- Epic fantasy / high fantasy, Romance: time travel / time slip, Fantasy romance / Romantic fantasy, Myths and Legends / Mythic fiction, Historical fantasy, Historical adventure fiction, Traditional or cultural fiction and true stories, tales and retellings
Synopsis
Sometimes legends don't tell the whole story. After the sudden death of her boyfriend, Vera is content to fade into the background, washing sheets and cleaning bathrooms in a Glastonbury hotel. But when a mysterious guest reveals himself as Merlin and whisks her back to seventh-century Camelot, everything changes. He insists she's not just Vera, she's Guinevere, and only she can undo the curse draining the kingdom's magic and save Camelot from the will of a power-hungry mage.There's just one problem: Vera remembers nothing of her past life. And with Camelot teetering on the edge of collapse, time is running out.As Merlin works to restore her memories, Vera uncovers a tangled history of betrayal, power, and heartbreak. Why does King Arthur recoil at her presence? What truly happened the night the curse was cast? And why does every answer feel like it's tearing her in two?In a kingdom built on legend, Vera must decide who she is, before the past destroys the future.
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