For the King: A Novel

by Carissa Weiser

The first installment of a comprehensive retelling of King Arthur’s legend that breathes new life into the classic tale, from cohost of the Myths and Legends podcast, Carissa Weiser.

Logris is a land torn asunder, plagued by invasions, assassinations, and anarchy. Rulers rise and fall, and so the tide turns. The land lies in wait for one strong enough to truly bear the crown, one who will pull a sword from a rock.

But there is another being, rumored to be half-demon and half-man, who braids together these threads of destiny. He goes by the name of Merlin, and he shapes kingdoms like clay, only to destroy them between his fingers. And so fate proceeds…

Morgan is a princess unlike her sisters. Intent on learning the mystic arts, she flees her comfortable yet predictable life to find Merlin’s fabled cave, a place of knowledge where she longs to become an apprentice. She is not the only one with such a dream, and what she discovers inside the workroom is beyond anything she could have imagined.

And then there is Arthur, the boy king remembered throughout time. Perhaps he can prove his worth and bury his past before those closest to him understand the extent of his rise to power, as he rules with a sword in his hand and Merlin in his ear.

Meanwhile, the currents of Avalon, and of the Ladies of the Lake, swirl beneath them all.

A story of loyalties tested and lives lost, of characters both familiar and fresh, For the King is the first installment of a tale that knits the scramble of Arthurian legend into a kaleidoscopic journey through time, perspective, and the trappings of one’s own destiny. The adventure awaits—if you so choose.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Arthurian, Historical Fiction, Adult, Retellings

352 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication December 1, 2026

About the author

A former assistant professor, Carissa Weiser is now the award-winning co-creator of the international hit, Myths and Legends®, and its sister show, Fictional. Her debut novel, FOR THE KING, hits shelves on December 1st.

Find her also @carissa.weiser on Instagram.

Reviews

[Liana Gold]

A retelling of King Arthurs legend through a kaleidoscopic journey through time.

Sci-Fi/Fantasy


Many thanks to NetGalley, William Morrow and the author, Carissa Weiser for an early ARC.

Publication date: December 1, 2026

[Nicole B · Rating 3 out of 5]

The beginning felt kind of chaotic, with too many characters and storylines all at once, so I never really got hooked. The writing was good and detailed, but there was just too much going on, and the timeline jumps confused me at times.
I also think there were too many side characters, which took focus away from the main story. I don’t know much about Arthurian legend, so some parts didn’t really make sense to me. Overall, I was hoping for more action, drama, and romance… the story just didn’t grab me the way I wanted it to.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the opportunity.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley, William Morrow, and Carissa Weiser for providing an ARC of For the King in exchange for an honest review.

I should preface this review by saying that I have a Master's degree in Medieval Studies and have studied Arthurian legends extensively. I love these stories, and For the King surpassed my expectations. It was a love letter to the legends, respectful of the source materials, and accessible to those who might not know much about Arthur.

You do have to embrace the weird when it comes to Arthurian legends, and For the King does just that. If you're not familiar with the different legends, you might not get it. Most modern retellings tend to focus on the romance between Arthur and Guinevere (and Lancelot) as well as the honorable knights of the Round Table. The courtly love stories are not the focus of For the King. And it’s fantastic.

We start with the early kings of Logris (Arthur’s England), each influenced by Merlin, and each failing spectacularly. We get the sword in the stone (Excalibur comes later) and the boy-king Arthur, who initially follows Merlin to the letter. Arthur’s exploits eventually lead to a “fruitful” one-night stand with Morgause (if you know, you know). Many bad decisions later, attempted regicide, and new alliances formed, Arthur finally gets his round table, but not all his knights are loyal. Guinevere has a small role in this, which makes sense because she’s outside of Merlin and Morgan’s scheming. The primary focus of the story is on how Merlin and Morgan manipulate Arthur’s kingdom. We do get the confrontation between Merlin and Nimue, and then it ends. To be continued, I expect, since the story is not finished.

For the King shows us how not-so-noble King Arthur is, but also how those around him manipulated him. This book balances the nuances of politics, love, and betrayal in medieval England. It's not pretty. And this is no courtly romance. And that is fine with me!

Read it and immerse yourself in an accessibility wild, weird world of King Arthur.

[TAbs · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with a copy of the arc in exchange for my honest review.
Since reading Gwen and Art Are Not In Love, I’ve been seeking out King Author stories through any media possible, so when I saw For the King available on Netgalley with this cover, I had to request it. Unfortunately, I didn’t love it the way I wanted to. I have 2 main problems with this novel, both relating to the structure and storytelling.
First, this novel is very much written like a folktale, which DUH IT IS; but my problem with it being written in such a way is that it makes the characters just…characters. I want my characters to feel like people. I want to care about them. I want to feel what they feel. Live what they live. That’s why I read! But this story felt more like someone was telling me a bedtime story, and yes, I can attest it worked, because I feel asleep reading this every time I picked it up. Which leads me to the second problem I had with this novel. It’s not very engaging, at least not in the beginning. While there is a prologue section, it is completely pointless when the entire first 18% (I know because I wrote a note to myself) is a prologue. They may have chapter numbers, but a prologue it is! I do understand that it was intended to show the machinations of Merlin throughout the generations, but still…a prologue. The Pendragon Cycle gave us Merlin’s backstory in 2 episodes, and I cared so much about his parents that I wanted a whole season! I kept waiting and waiting for the actual story I was here to read to begin, and once it did, I didn’t care.
I hate that I didn’t love this. I hope you do.
I was sat and ready for this story, but I then I fell asleep

[Amanda Christensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the King is an ambitious take on the Arthurian legends that pulls from multiple versions of the story rather than sticking to one specific retelling. It brings together familiar characters like Arthur, Merlin, Guinevere, Morgan, and Uther Pendragon while adding new characters and perspectives that help flesh out the world and its conflicts.

One of my favorite parts of this book was how the women were portrayed. Characters like Morgan and Guinevere felt complex, capable, and important to the story in ways that aren't always present in traditional Arthurian retellings. Their motivations, relationships, and struggles added a lot of depth to the overall narrative.

I also appreciated how much care was clearly put into the Arthurian lore. The writing captured the feel of classic legends while still making the story accessible and engaging. If you love Arthurian retellings, political intrigue, and stories rooted in mythology, there's a lot to enjoy here.
That said, the beginning was a little difficult for me to get into. There are a lot of characters, multiple POVs, and several storylines happening at once, which made it easy to lose track of who was who at times. The story also takes a while to get everything set up, so the pacing felt slower in the first part of the book.

Overall, I enjoyed this interpretation of the Arthurian legend and especially liked the focus on the female characters. While the large cast and shifting perspectives occasionally made the story feel overwhelming, it's a rewarding read for fans of epic fantasy and Arthurian mythology.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Bama Girl · Rating 4 out of 5]

For The King feels less like a straightforward retelling and more like a compilation inspired by Le Morte d'Arthur, The Once and Future King, The Mists of Avalon, and Idylls of the King, blending multiple elements into a sweeping interpretation of the Arthurian legend. Familiar figures such as Merlin, Uther Pendragon, Margause, Morgan, and Sir Kay all appear, while the addition of original characters lends greater emotional depth and completeness to both the triumphs and heartbreaks that define Arthur’s rise and fall.

I adore all things connected to King Arthur and absolutely devoured this book. What especially stood out to me was the way the women were given fuller, more nuanced roles. Their motivations, struggles, and influence on the story felt far more developed than in many traditional tellings, which added an extra layer of richness to the reading experience for me.

I also appreciated the way the author stayed true to the tone and writing style of the classic Arthurian tales. Reading For The King felt like another opportunity to immerse myself in a world I’ve loved for years.

I give it 4 stars.

[Kirsten Jorgensen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of “For the King” by Carissa Weiser. I can hardly fathom the undertaking of sifting through the lore of King Arthur to create one, manageable novel. I totally agree with the foreword when she says it could have been multiple novels in a series.

In my pre-reading (as someone who only knows that there was a stone, a sword, Camelot, and a round table), I was shocked by the incongruities in the retellings. Carissa did a great job incorporating much of the lore into a (mostly) synchronous timeline. That being said, it was often difficult to follow and remember characters and the intricacies of the story because SO MANY things were happening. Having more background knowledge may have helped me out, but it was often hard to get into the story and it ended feeling like there were multiple loose ends.

This novel would be great for a fan of the King Arthur lore or someone hoping to learn more. I came away feeling much more educated on the King Arthur literature, but it felt a little like homework for a lit class. It would be better to have it in print to easily access the glossary of characters as you read.

[Elise ~ BooksForAModernWorld · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️

I received an ARC of For The King by Carissa Weiser from Harper Collins.

This first installment in a retelling of the collected Arthurian legends is richly imagined and beautifully written, especially for readers who, like me, know more of Camelot from childhood adaptations than from the original mythology itself. I loved how much depth and agency the women were given here—the female characters felt dynamic, intelligent, and emotionally layered in ways that made the story feel fresh.

The novel also sparked a genuine interest in Arthurian legend for me, and I appreciated how immersive and carefully crafted the world felt. You can tell there’s a deep reverence for the source material woven throughout the book.

I would absolutely recommend it to readers who love Arthurian retellings, sweeping fantasy rooted in legend, and especially stories that re-center the women history often leaves at the edges.

[Vidhi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: Actual Rating 4/5 Stars
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was quite a good book. I enjoyed the retelling, and it felt like a fairly faithful and magical retelling of old Arthurian legends. I enjoyed the writing, and the pacing was phenomenal. As noted, Merlin is actually the central character, not Arthur, an interesting and well-paid off story device, that I felt added a layer of complexity and nuance to the story. I also enjoyed that it wasn't the most romance-focused, instead feeling more like a tale of courtly intrigue. The prose was at times a touch dry, however, I enjoyed it quite a bit. The characters felt like characters, not real people, however, that is to be expected with this kind of story. All in all, it was a satisfying read, with quite the intricate plot.

[Christel Nance · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love a good retelling, so I was excited for this.

We start the book with a list of characters and their relationship to the story. Arthur is obviously our main man. The rest of the characters kind of blended together. I followed along to the plot, but I didn’t quite get hooked. I would have loved to have the book in the point of view of Guinevere. She’s tough and has her own story to tell. I’d find her much more entertaining than Arthur or any of the other points of view we follow.

I’ve read Legendborn, which is also a recent Arthur retelling. And when that one was written so amazingly, it’s tough to compete with it. I just couldn’t help but compare them.

I received this ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.

[Jenny Schofield · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was so excited for this, but it didn’t hit the mark for me. I expected an epic tale of adventure, wild quests, and courtly romance, with characters I could love and admire.

Instead, each character was unlikeable and deeply flawed. Which I think was the point…to show the darker side of Arthurian lore. And don’t get me wrong, I am no expert..I didn’t go in this with a vast Arthurian knowledge base.

But it just wasn’t much like what I DID know and expect. So it did not draw me in nor excite me.

It was well written, and I can tell the author poured so much into it, and that I can truly admire. It just wasn’t my cup of tea.

But I greatly appreciate my ARC, so huge thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for sharing it with me!

[Les · Rating 5 out of 5]

REVIEW OF ADVANCED COPY RECEIVED FRIM NETGALLEY

Thank you NetGalley, Harper Collin’s, and Carissa Weiser for the opportunity to review For The King.
I first fell in love with the story of Arthur when I had to read The Once and Future King by T.H. White in my high school English class thirty something years ago. I LOVED this book!! I loved the familiarity of the story I knew with new twists and turns. I liked that Merlin was finally shown to be the manipulator he truly seemed to be. All of these characters were amazing and I was invested in each of their lives by the time the book ended.
I cannot wait to read the next book in this trilogy.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone with a fascination of Arthurian stories through childhood stories and book series like "The Mists of Avalon," I love a good retelling of a classic. The plot of this one was well thought out and the main characters thoroughly developed. I loved the idea of the dual nature 0f Merlin constantly in battle with himself. Seeing a familiar story and characters through a new lens is always exciting and fascinating. And yet, it stayed true to the basic tenants of legend. My one criticism would be this: while I love stories from multiple points of view, pairing it with constant timeline jumps made it difficult to keep track of what was going on and when. Overall, well done!

[Caesar Murillo · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the King is a rich, atmospheric Arthurian fantasy that leans heavily into myth, politics, and old magic rather than romance-driven fantasy trends. The portrayals of Morgan and Merlin were especially compelling. Both felt complex, dangerous, and deeply human. The worldbuilding around Avalon and the mystical elements gave the story a haunting, legendary feel throughout.
The pacing is more deliberate and mythic than action-heavy, but if you enjoy Arthurian retellings with morally gray characters and strong folklore influences, this is absolutely worth picking up. I’m very interested to see where the trilogy goes next.

[Emily Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow, and Carissa Weiser for providing an ARC of 'For the King’ for an honest review.

I was sold on this the minute I read it was a retelling of Arthurian legends and was not disappointed! Politics, manipulation, and plotting are heavily present in this retelling, with sprinkles of romance throughout. I was glad this book was not romance heavy and instead explored the darker side of the legends. The plot and character development were well done and I enjoyed the switch of narrators throughout the novel.

[Annaka · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want a retelling that dwells in the darker realms of the King Arthur legends, this is a well written story. If you want likeable characters and stories to root for, this tale doesn’t give much of that. Merlin is terrible. Arthur is okay at best. Even the “heroines” of the story are mostly morally grey.

The novel spans long periods of time and introduces so many characters (and POVs) that it’s a bit hard to feel invested or even keep track at times. There were several characters I expected to play a bigger role due to having consistent POVs throughout the tale that didn’t. Overall, Weiser’s writing is wonderful and it’s surprising that this is her debut novel because it is so good. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a book I personally ended up enjoying (I mostly want my fiction filled with hope and people to root for).

Will I finish the series? No
Would I read something else by the author? Possibly, but it would have to be less dark.

Thanks to NetGalley, William Morrow, and Carissa Weiser for providing an ARC of 'For the King’ for an honest review.

[Elorah Muller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book, however it was a bit slow at the beginning as it took awhile to set everything up. It is also politics heavy which I enjoyed but isn't for everyone. I enjoyed the character of Morgan and the shift away from the somewhat villainous way she is portrayed in other versions of this story.

[Potato [some assembly required] · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to netgalley and HarperCollins for the ARC!

First of all, this book was very well researched. Almost every character that had been mentioned in the famous story was somehow in this book. The storyline was enjoyable, even if a little dry at some points. I’m not sure if I would reread though because the writing was a little hard to get into

[The · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for the ARC! I enjoyed this book.

[El · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow for the opportunity to review this novel.

This was an amazing book! I will say, I was a little caught off guard at first because all I really knew going into the book was that it was a retelling of the Arthurian legends. This led me to expect an epic, romantic, swoon-worthy story. That is not the vibe of 'For the King' at all!

This novel took all of my preconceived notions of the Arthurian legends and turned them on their head. 'For the King' is told from multiple compelling POVs that show the alternate darker side of the classic legends. No character is truly 'good' or truly 'evil.' This is a deeply emotional book that had me hooked and searching for answers. Absolutely recommend to anyone who loves morally gray and complex characters. Excellent storytelling!

[Roo the kangaroo · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are looking for a modern retelling of Arthur. This isn't it. But if you are looking for an NIV version of Le Morte d'Arthur, you'll enjoy this.