Separated by water from his trusted friend, Cedwyn must keep the children from harm and himself alive until Guinevere comes to the rescue. But will she get there in time?
Guinevere rarely thinks with her head. Just the opposite.
Thinking with one’s heart: a sure recipe for trouble.
And trouble finds Guinevere, all too often.
Stubborn, Guinevere refuses to abandon those depending upon her. Even when ordered by her father, the king.
Fiercely loyal, Cedwyn always rushes to Guinevere’s defense.
Stubborn to a fault. Always there for her.
A future knight? His one and only hope.
A hero? Not what Cedwyn strove for. But it sought him.
And so these teens—on the edge of Legend—barrel forth in this deadly dangerous Arthurian adventure.
A riveting coming of age story set in the mystical days of King Arthur.
2020 EVVY 1st Place Fantasy, Folklore, Myth; 2020 EVVY 2nd Place Juvenile Fiction MG; 2020 Readers' Favorite Silver Medal Myth/Fairytale; 2020 Pinnacle Book Achievement Award YA Fiction
Excerpt
“Land!”
Cedwyn turned and looked up at the smaller man—the bully― the one called Ulf. He shivered as the man’s name conjured up visions of a hungry wolf, dangerous to all. Ulf clung high on the tall pole in the center of the boat. His out-stretched arm pointed to an invisible spot ahead of them. Cedwyn tried hard to see what the man saw.
The other three renegades ran to the railing, craning their necks toward the direction of the spotter’s arm. The burly renegade leader, called Baard by the others, raised the cry. “There! Land!” He and Ulf had not fared well on the crossing. Cedwyn had seen them both hanging over the rail with the sickness.
Cedwyn returned to scanning the horizon. A low shadow came into sight, grew, and at last became a separate image from the water. Silently Cedwyn thanked the Goddess, her words the only comfort he had since they’d left Britannia.
…your journey the hardest of all…far from those you serve and love...See this most difficult journey to its end…Embrace your Knight’s vow...
Cedwyn had embraced his vow, realizing there was no other choice he could have made. And, during each moment of his journey his thoughts didn’t stray far from his Queen, his friend, Guinevere.
“I know you’ll come, Guin’ver. I know it.”
Professional Reviews
Reader's Favorite 5-Star: A Gripping Tale.
Guinevere: The Legend is the concluding entry in the Guinevere trilogy by Cheryl Carpinello, a compelling Arthurian tale with strong characters and a story that explores the themes of friendship and loyalty against the backdrop of a society rocked by a crisis. The little children have been kidnapped, and Cedwyn is with them. Guinevere has made a vow to rescue Cedwyn and she leaves home without telling her father, an act that fills her with guilt. But she doesn't know her bravery might put Cedwyn in harm's way. She is just fifteen. And eleven-year-old Cedwyn trusts her absolutely, considering her as his queen. He is certain that she's coming for him and the children. Can she save them from the renegades who hold the children captive? Traveling across the dark waters to the land beyond, Gaul, is perilous. In spite of the grim tales she's heard from the old wizard Merlyn, will she continue?
This is a beautifully written story with fascinating characters, set in medieval England, and featuring characters of legend like the legendary King Arthur and Merlyn. In this novel, the author deftly develops a tale of adventure that revolves around Guinevere as a young girl and her loyalty to those she loves. The reader encounters her at the very start of the story, poised and on the go, determined to save her friend. Cedwyn is a richly developed young character as well and I enjoyed the way the author develops his friendship and devotion to the protagonist. The writing is filled with strong imagery, including elements of the setting like the rugged landscapes. The author's unique ability to unveil the strong emotions of the characters and to keep the story realistic is a great addition to the strengths of the novel. The medieval era is reflected in the unique style of conversation and in the beliefs of the characters. Guinevere: The Legend is a gripping tale that keeps the reader turning the pages until the very last one...Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite
BookLife Prize Review 2020 of Guinevere: The Legend
Plot: Carpinello's fantasy-adventure story, thethird in a series designed for reluctant readers, offers readers anexciting, accessible introduction to Arthurian legend.
Prose: Carpinello's writing is smooth, vivid, andpitch-perfect for the target audience of reluctant readers. The authoroffers a seamless blending of exposition, dialogue, and action,resulting in dynamic and engaging storytelling.
Originality: While the material Carpinello drawsfrom is vastly familiar, the tailoring of the content to strivingreaders, the casting of child characters, and the integration ofstriking illustrations, makes this offering a stand out.
Character/Execution: The author excels at craftingimmediately enticing characters who, despite the historical fantasyrealm they occupy, are relatable to young readers. Themes of friendship, trust, and loyalty permeate this winning conclusion to a unique series.
Kimberley 5.0 out of 5 stars Sad to see this excellent trilogy end, but it was amazing.
Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2020
Friendship forms the theme of this final novel in Cheryl Carpinello’s trilogy about the heroic young Guinevere, forced to grow older and stronger way before her time because of her proposed destiny. In Guinevere: The Legend, we see our now-fifteen year old heroine determined to rescue little Cedwyn, her very best friend in the world, as well as the rest of the children who have been flung to the shores of ancient Gaul. The stakes are high for our very young heroes, and the action is truly cranked up a gear to bring this tale to a very climactic and emotional close.
Throughout the reading experience, I’ve had two heads on whilst I’ve been thinking about the plot, but also in relation to being an educator and seeing such an excellent creation for reluctant readers. But that all went out the window as the action heated up in book three, and I lost myself totally in the adventure, devouring chapter after chapter like I was ten years old and this was my C.S. Lewis binge all over again. Carpinello’s work has that addictive quality to it, where the atmosphere comes alive and surrounds you, and you start to view the young heroes as real people with whom you are deeply connected. I think her young readership target age will feel that even more strongly than I did, and truly find themselves feeling like they’ve lost friends at the end of this striking and heartfelt trilogy.
Overall, I’ll certainly be looking forward to more books from this splendid author, and looking back fondly on a highly immersive series with huge literacy benefits.
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