Guinevere's Gamble (Nancy McKenzie)

Author Biography

Nancy McKenzie has written multiple novels inspired by Arthurian legend, primarily centered on the figure of Guinevere. She lives in Connecticut.

Published By: Alfred A. Knopff

Year: 2009

ISBN: 978-0-375-84346-4

Reading Level: Grades 7 and up

Reader’s Annotation:

Young Guinevere joins her family at a conference of kings and finds herself despised by the High King’s sister, Princess Morgan. When Morgan’s scheming turns dangerous, what will Guinevere be forced to gamble in order to stop her?

Plot Summary:

Thirteen-year-old Guinevere has enjoyed new respect from her uncle and aunt, King Pellinore and Queen Alyse, ever since she thwarted the treacherous Sir Darric’s rebellion. Enough respect that when young King Arthur summons them to a conference in Deva, they bring her along. With her comes Llyr, her close friend and guardian from the pagan tribe known as the Old Ones.

In Deva, Guinevere meets an exciting array of people, including the friendly Prince Trevor of Powys, the kindly Sir Bedwyr, and the legendary Merlin the Enchanter. But she finds herself inexplicably disliked by King Arthur’s jealous sister, Princess Morgan. And when the crafty Morgan learns of Llyr’s connection to Guinevere, she takes advantage of the royal assembly’s anti-pagan prejudice to frame him for the theft of a valuable dagger. Unless Llyr’s innocence is proven, he faces certain death, but no solid proof is in sight. What can Guinevere do to save her friend?

Critical Evaluation:

This second and, so far, last book of the unfinished Chrysalis Queen Quartet is the epitome of a character-driven novel, as opposed to the slightly more plot-driven Guinevere’s Gift. It’s essentially a series of loosely connected events that happen to Guinevere and those around her during the course of the royal conference. The most significant plotline, involving Llyr facing death on trumped-up charges and Guinevere’s efforts to save him, only appears in the book’s last third, while other seemingly-important plotlines (e.g. a near-fatal riding accident that Guinevere innocently causes, a strange illness that strikes Queen Alyse, a “love triangle” between Guinevere, Llyr and tribal girl Alia) appear briefly, then vanish. This episodic structure is the book’s chief weakness.

All the same, the cast of characters is engaging enough to carry the action. Guinevere’s sulky cousin Elaine, the complex Queen Alyse (unfortunately less of a presence than in Guinevere’s Gift), the devoted Llyr, an appropriately sinister Morgan Le Fey who nonetheless earns some sympathy with her tragic backstory, and last but not least, the tomboyish and awkward yet iron-willed Guinevere herself, still a fairly standard YA fantasy heroine but still easy to like and admire. Her future with Arthur and Lancelot is neatly foreshadowed, as she struggles to accept the prophecy from her birth that foretold both glory and tragedy for her. While not quite as strong as Guinevere’s Gift this one is still worthwhile for young lovers of Arthuriana.

Curriculum Ties:

•Arthurian legend

•Feminism

Challenge Issues:

•Mild profanity

•Violence

Why This Book?

Flawed and episodic though it may be, Guinevere’s Gamble will still be lapped up by teenage lovers of princess-themed fantasy novels and of Arthurian legend.