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Chrysalis Queen Quartet #2
Guinevere's Gamble
The second book in the Chrysalis Queen Quartet, starring the young Guinevere.
Much has changed over the last few months in Gwynedd, but Guinevere is still uncertain where her future lies. She recently made the unsettling discovery that she has been guarded all her life by a pagan tribe who believes she is destined to save them—they believe she and the great king will one day wed. But this prophecy is so at odds with her inferior position in the castle as Queen Alyse and King Pellinore’s lowly ward, she can’t believe it’s true. Now more complications arise as Guinevere and her cousin accompany Alyse and Pellinore to a meeting between Welsh kings, presided over by one of the High King Arthur’s knights. While there, Guinevere discovers she has a powerful King Arthur’s sister, Princess Morgaine. But why would Morgaine hate her?
Guinevere is tumbling into her destiny in ways she never imagined, and she may soon have to face the prophecy with new eyes. . . .
Much has changed over the last few months in Gwynedd, but Guinevere is still uncertain where her future lies. She recently made the unsettling discovery that she has been guarded all her life by a pagan tribe who believes she is destined to save them—they believe she and the great king will one day wed. But this prophecy is so at odds with her inferior position in the castle as Queen Alyse and King Pellinore’s lowly ward, she can’t believe it’s true. Now more complications arise as Guinevere and her cousin accompany Alyse and Pellinore to a meeting between Welsh kings, presided over by one of the High King Arthur’s knights. While there, Guinevere discovers she has a powerful King Arthur’s sister, Princess Morgaine. But why would Morgaine hate her?
Guinevere is tumbling into her destiny in ways she never imagined, and she may soon have to face the prophecy with new eyes. . . .
361 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2003
3 people are currently reading
299 people want to read
About the author
Nancy McKenzie
20 books85 followersNancy McKenzie is the author of several novels based on Arthurian tales. Guinevere’s Gift is her first novel for young adults. She lives in Danbury, Connecticut.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
September 30, 2022
Cette Guenièvre est d'un ennui... Elle ne possède toujours aucun défaut si ce n'est celui d'être parfaite et éprise de deux hommes............ Oui-da par-ci, oui-da par-là, Gwen est belle, patati, patata, la beauté de son âme et celle de son enveloppe corporelle sont si enchanteresses que même son fils adoptif tombe amoureux d'elle.... La honte d'être glauque ainsi madame McKenzie...
Au moins, elle est finalement punie d'avoir été si parfaite toute sa vie, notre Guenièvre. Pauvrette, va.
Arthur ? De même, trop parfait. Aucun défaut. Nul. Je sais qu'il est une légende à lui seul, mais tout de même..... Si plat........ Mordred ? Plat. Et Merlin ? Inexistant ? Sa presque-présence si peu utile ? Juste là pour ajouter un élément de mystère au roman, dommage...........
UNE CHOSE M'A TURLUPINÉE TOUT LE ROMAN. OU EST PASSÉ LE CHEVAL ZEPHIR DU TOME 1 ??
GWEN L'AIMAIT, C'ETAIT UN CADEAU DE SON LANCELOT, ET IL A DISPARU SANS PREVENIR ?? ALLÔ ??
Lancelot, d'ailleurs ? La dégression de notre chevalier préféré ? Plus dreamy du tout dans ce tome. Nul. Relou. Où sont passés ses longs cils noirs qui caressaient ses joues. Il est tellement devenu aigri qu'ils sont tous tombés, je parie...... c'est la........ calvi-cils........
pardon
Alyse ? Qui soudainement s'est mise à aimer Gwen ? Alors qu'elle pourrait la blâmer pour ce qui est arrivé à Elaine ? Trop d'incohérences..............
Et pourtant j'ai passé un bon moment à lire les péripéties redondantes de la Reine Gueux-mièvre. Je dois vraiment aimer les choses un peu nulles. Serait-ce une bénédiction ? Oui-da
o u i - d a
Au moins, elle est finalement punie d'avoir été si parfaite toute sa vie, notre Guenièvre. Pauvrette, va.
Arthur ? De même, trop parfait. Aucun défaut. Nul. Je sais qu'il est une légende à lui seul, mais tout de même..... Si plat........ Mordred ? Plat. Et Merlin ? Inexistant ? Sa presque-présence si peu utile ? Juste là pour ajouter un élément de mystère au roman, dommage...........
UNE CHOSE M'A TURLUPINÉE TOUT LE ROMAN. OU EST PASSÉ LE CHEVAL ZEPHIR DU TOME 1 ??
GWEN L'AIMAIT, C'ETAIT UN CADEAU DE SON LANCELOT, ET IL A DISPARU SANS PREVENIR ?? ALLÔ ??
Lancelot, d'ailleurs ? La dégression de notre chevalier préféré ? Plus dreamy du tout dans ce tome. Nul. Relou. Où sont passés ses longs cils noirs qui caressaient ses joues. Il est tellement devenu aigri qu'ils sont tous tombés, je parie...... c'est la........ calvi-cils........
pardon
Alyse ? Qui soudainement s'est mise à aimer Gwen ? Alors qu'elle pourrait la blâmer pour ce qui est arrivé à Elaine ? Trop d'incohérences..............
Et pourtant j'ai passé un bon moment à lire les péripéties redondantes de la Reine Gueux-mièvre. Je dois vraiment aimer les choses un peu nulles. Serait-ce une bénédiction ? Oui-da
o u i - d a
July 14, 2010
Again I have found I have greatly enjoyed Nancy McKenzie's work. Her character development and knowledge of the time period makes the story and the people seem more real. I cannot wait until the next ones in the quartet come out. In the meantime, I think i will check out her other novels of Arthurian legends...
November 17, 2012
Reviewed by Joan Stradling for TeensReadToo.com
Guinevere is still struggling to come to terms with the prophecy given at the time of her birth; a prophecy that foretold Guinevere would one day be wed to a great king and be the highest lady in the land.
She's also trying to come to terms with the young man the ancient tribe appointed as her personal guardian. As a ward of Queen Alyse and King Pellinore, she is invited to join them and her cousin, Princess Elaine, as they travel to a meeting of the Welsh kings.
Here Guinevere meets King Arthur's sister, Princess Morgan. Unfortunately, Morgan seems to hate Gwen on site and uses her power and influence in an attempt to destroy Guinevere through the people she cares about. This puts Gwen's tribal guardian, Llyr, in danger, and she will risk everything to save him.
In GUINEVERE'S GAMBLE, McKenzie introduces the infamous Morgan le Fay and also Merlin to her readers. As with the previous installment, Ms. McKenzie gives these old (and much written about characters)new life and makes them her own while still remaining true to the legend.
GUINEVERE'S GAMBLE is the second book in THE CHRYSALIS QUEEN QUARTET and a marvelous companion to the first book, GUINEVERE'S GIFT.
I loved reading more about Guinevere's journey toward her future and I am anxiously waiting for the third book.
Guinevere is still struggling to come to terms with the prophecy given at the time of her birth; a prophecy that foretold Guinevere would one day be wed to a great king and be the highest lady in the land.
She's also trying to come to terms with the young man the ancient tribe appointed as her personal guardian. As a ward of Queen Alyse and King Pellinore, she is invited to join them and her cousin, Princess Elaine, as they travel to a meeting of the Welsh kings.
Here Guinevere meets King Arthur's sister, Princess Morgan. Unfortunately, Morgan seems to hate Gwen on site and uses her power and influence in an attempt to destroy Guinevere through the people she cares about. This puts Gwen's tribal guardian, Llyr, in danger, and she will risk everything to save him.
In GUINEVERE'S GAMBLE, McKenzie introduces the infamous Morgan le Fay and also Merlin to her readers. As with the previous installment, Ms. McKenzie gives these old (and much written about characters)new life and makes them her own while still remaining true to the legend.
GUINEVERE'S GAMBLE is the second book in THE CHRYSALIS QUEEN QUARTET and a marvelous companion to the first book, GUINEVERE'S GIFT.
I loved reading more about Guinevere's journey toward her future and I am anxiously waiting for the third book.
January 24, 2017
I bought this book to use as a gift for a young girl who loves the Arthur legend. I had already bought the first book, Guinevere’s Gift for her. I have many Arthur legend books, and among my very favorite is Nancy McKenzie’s Queen of Camelot.
This YA book about Guinevere’s life as a young girl is book II of the Chrysalis Queen Quartet but I guess there are only two books. It started out a little slow for me but definitely built into an intriguing story involving a prophecy. It takes place during a period of time when young Guinevere finds herself the target of Princess Morgana who through witchery realizes that Guinevere is destined to become her enemy and to be part of Arthur’s life. Well written with hints of what is to come later to all of the players in young Guinevere’s life. Arthur is not in the book, and it all takes place at a meeting of Welsh Kings where Morgana has stopped on her way to the marriage that Arthur has arranged for her. Good story – stolen dagger, false accusations, murder, a trial, sorcery….It’s YA and totally clean.
This book and the previous one would be a great introduction for a teen to the legend of King Arthur.
This YA book about Guinevere’s life as a young girl is book II of the Chrysalis Queen Quartet but I guess there are only two books. It started out a little slow for me but definitely built into an intriguing story involving a prophecy. It takes place during a period of time when young Guinevere finds herself the target of Princess Morgana who through witchery realizes that Guinevere is destined to become her enemy and to be part of Arthur’s life. Well written with hints of what is to come later to all of the players in young Guinevere’s life. Arthur is not in the book, and it all takes place at a meeting of Welsh Kings where Morgana has stopped on her way to the marriage that Arthur has arranged for her. Good story – stolen dagger, false accusations, murder, a trial, sorcery….It’s YA and totally clean.
This book and the previous one would be a great introduction for a teen to the legend of King Arthur.
December 24, 2015
Much like the previous book, I felt this was another nice look at a young Guinevere and a great fill in to the Queen of Camelot book for adults. Guinevere continues to be endearing and inspiring by just being herself. I've always enjoyed that she is able to be tomboyish and feminine both, and this continues to be the trend. I like that we start to see the seeds of what becomes Elaine's deeper hatred for Gwen as well as the dislike from Morgan as well. It is a nice tie in to QoC, though it also stands nicely on its own. I hope to see the rest of the series from the author some day.
September 3, 2016
This book is good as the first one, It will have you in suspense through the whole book. But I love how its a girl who stands up to everyone and is beautiful and knows how to do things and whats to know stuff about Llyr and his people. I would recommend this to anyone it is a great book. Just found out there is another one can't wait to read that one.
Have a good day and happy reading
"her arrows are dangerous, for her aim is true."
"she was the sun who warmed his world, the rain who nourished,the moon who blessed."
'light with thee walk, my sister."
"my sister ,dark from thee flee."
Have a good day and happy reading
"her arrows are dangerous, for her aim is true."
"she was the sun who warmed his world, the rain who nourished,the moon who blessed."
'light with thee walk, my sister."
"my sister ,dark from thee flee."
March 25, 2016
What an awesome book. I have always been fascinated by Arthur and Guinevere, but this story is the best. It starts when Guinevere is only 12 so we learn about how she grew up. The problem is it was supposed to be a "quartet" and there are only two books so far. I e-mailed the author and she says she hopes to publish them soon. I can't wait until they come out.
January 4, 2010
I enjoyed this book. The only thing I didn't enjoy was how the story didn't end. I'll have to wait for book three to find out how will end. Of course we all know the legends so I could probably just guess.
September 21, 2011
Guinevere travels with her aunt, uncle, and cousin to meet King Arthur, but instead the meet Morgan, Arthur's sister. When Guinevere's guardian Llyr is accused of stealing a precious dagger, Guinevere must find out who is trying to hurt her and why.
April 23, 2012
This is a fun little series. This book is #2 apparently, but it was totally readable without having read the first one. It's about King Arthur's Guinevere when she's 13 and her first meet-up with Morgan Le Fey.
January 27, 2013
I thought I had already written my review for this book ... It has been a while since I read it now, but I still remember that it was just as wonderful as the first one. I'll have to go get it and read it again. I wonder when the third one will come out.
August 31, 2010
The second book in the Queen's Quartet, Gwen must save her friend Llyr from death, while exposing the true thief. But that could be hard when the thief might be the High King's own sister, Morgan.
June 10, 2011
Not as engaging as the first book. still a good read.
March 13, 2012
Again, I have a thing about Guinevere. Very much liked it.
July 3, 2012
It's overall very good. There are some references to mature content and pagan gods.
January 15, 2013
So sad there's no #3. :(
March 22, 2016
A beautiful sequel to Guinevere's Gift. I could not put this book down. The characters are wonderfull and the writing is elegant and superb. A must read for fans of Arthurian legends.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews