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Emry Merlin #3
The New Camelot
Sayeth it ain't so! The finale to the epic Emry Merlin trilogy is here, with all the sorcery, snark, and high stakes that made The Other Merlin one of Publishers Weekly’s Best Books of the Year!Everything is finally going right for Emry Merlin. Now that Arthur is the king and her wayward magic is under control, she’s enjoying life as Camelot’s official court wizard—and as Arthur’s girlfriend.But when an unexpected visitor arrives at court, Emry finds her hard-won position threatened. And Arthur is torn between listening to his advisors and following his heart. Even more troubling, war is on the horizon, with King Yurien’s access to dark magic ensuring Camelot’s doom. That is, unless Emry, Arthur, and Lance can find a way to defeat the evil sorceress Bellicent with magic from her own world. But undertaking a quest to Anwen is perilous business, and our young heroes will face many obstacles on their journey—from dangerous beasts to suspicious nobles to cursed maidens determined to find someone to marry.Can Emry and Arthur save their kingdom and fix their relationship, or will they have to choose between their future and Camelot’s?
496 pages, Hardcover
First published August 27, 2024
35 people are currently reading
4215 people want to read
About the author
Robyn Schneider
14 books2,487 followersRobyn Schneider grew up in Southern California, where she spent her childhood reading fantasy novels and searching for secret passages. She’s a graduate of Columbia University, where she studied creative writing, and the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, where she earned a Masters of Bioethics. Robyn is the bestselling author of The Beginning of Everything, Extraordinary Means, Invisible Ghosts, and You Don’t Live Here. Her work is available across the world in over a dozen languages. Her newest novel, The Other Merlin, will be published in September 2021. She lives in Los Angeles with her TV producer husband, their tiny puppy, and far too many books. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram @robynschneider
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
March 10, 2024
The New Camelot by Robyn Schneider is the epic conclusion I've been waiting for! 🌟 With sorcery, snark, and high stakes galore, it totally lives up to the expectation that I have after reading previous books in the series.
Emry Merlin's life is finally on track – she's rocking it as Camelot’s official court wizard and as Arthur’s girlfriend. But just when everything seems perfect, trouble comes knocking at the castle gates. Arthur faces a tough decision that threatens their happiness, while the looming threat of war casts a dark shadow over Camelot. But fear not, because Emry, Arthur, and Lance are ready to kick some evil sorceress butt with magic from another world!
I can't even begin to describe how much I adore every single character in this series – I would totally fight dragons for them! From the magical quests to the laugh-out-loud humor, this series has it all!
The New Camelot wraps up everyone's story perfectly, and watching Lancelot become a knight and Arthur step into his role as king was so satisfying. Plus, Emry's journey to owning her magic like a boss? Absolute perfection!
I'm seriously in disbelief that this is the final installment of the series. Saying goodbye to all these characters feels like saying goodbye to old friends. This is definitely the series I would reread again and again!
If you're a fan of Arthurian retellings or just love a good fantasy romp, let me tell you, this series is an absolute must-read. From the very first page to the very last, it's been a whirlwind of magic, romance, and nail-biting action. So, consider this my heartfelt recommendation to anyone out there craving a taste of Camelot. Dive into this series and get ready for the adventure of a lifetime.
Emry Merlin's life is finally on track – she's rocking it as Camelot’s official court wizard and as Arthur’s girlfriend. But just when everything seems perfect, trouble comes knocking at the castle gates. Arthur faces a tough decision that threatens their happiness, while the looming threat of war casts a dark shadow over Camelot. But fear not, because Emry, Arthur, and Lance are ready to kick some evil sorceress butt with magic from another world!
I can't even begin to describe how much I adore every single character in this series – I would totally fight dragons for them! From the magical quests to the laugh-out-loud humor, this series has it all!
The New Camelot wraps up everyone's story perfectly, and watching Lancelot become a knight and Arthur step into his role as king was so satisfying. Plus, Emry's journey to owning her magic like a boss? Absolute perfection!
I'm seriously in disbelief that this is the final installment of the series. Saying goodbye to all these characters feels like saying goodbye to old friends. This is definitely the series I would reread again and again!
If you're a fan of Arthurian retellings or just love a good fantasy romp, let me tell you, this series is an absolute must-read. From the very first page to the very last, it's been a whirlwind of magic, romance, and nail-biting action. So, consider this my heartfelt recommendation to anyone out there craving a taste of Camelot. Dive into this series and get ready for the adventure of a lifetime.
March 17, 2024
A lovely conclusion to a lovely trilogy. These books are full of so much heart, humor, and adventure. They are unflinchingly women-led and queer, and I just adore them.
The friendships thrived in The New Camelot. It wasn’t the case that our heroes got paired off in separate romantic relationships, causing their platonic relationships to take a backseat. We still got tender best friendship moments between Arthur and Lance. The female friendships flourished, with Emry and Guin supporting each other in beautiful ways. And, of course, Gawain was a delight any time he interacted with absolutely anyone.
Robyn Schneider does a really good job with complicated characters, specifically in the category of “Men Who Suck In Really Realistic Ways But Who Are Redeemable Enough to Care About Getting Better And Slowly Improve Themselves.” Several characters in the series fit this bill, but perhaps the best example is Emmett. A big theme in the first two books is how much Emry has to clean up after Emmett’s irresponsibility, all while trudging through a world of achingly relatable sexism. And yet, Emmett is written in such a three-dimensional way that we’re still rooting for him, and over the course of the series, we get to see him become a better—while still imperfect—person. It would have been so much easier to make Emmett (or Jereth, or Lord Agravaine, or Willyt, or—you get the point) a dislikable character through and through. Schneider doesn’t reward these characters for doing the bare minimum in their journeys to becoming less problematic. We just watch them grow, knowing they have a ways left to go, but hopeful that they’ll keep inching closer.
(The one character who has no flaws is Gawain. You cannot convince me otherwise, no matter what half of the French courtiers might say.)
This book introduced a major side character who, understandably, took away a lot of screen time from some of the side characters. The plot choices made sense, though I did wish we checked in a little more with Percival, Tristan, and Emmett, even if just in a single chapter devoted to their antics at Camelot. Also, in my dream of dreams, this book would have had an epilogue about Gawain. And the epilogue would have been 450 pages. And he would have been blissfully happy and chosen first on every one of those pages. (It may be apparent who my favorite character is.)
I reread books 1 and 2 in anticipation of reading this ARC, which both reminded me of how downright fun they are and made me afraid of book 3 not measuring up. But it did! The New Camelot had a lot going on but managed to tie everything up nicely (perhaps with one small exception—justice for our relatable king, the sad and saucy French gargoyle).
One final note: This Arthurian retelling is done with so much care. Having recently reread T.H. White’s The Once and Future King, it is so lovely to see how the essence of the characters is preserved in this retelling. Arthur is the furthest thing from a haughty, bellicose ruler. He is full of love for knowledge, for his friends, for his people. He thinks deeply about fairness and the injustice of war and building a more just society. Gawain, someone who has been dealt a difficult hand, who based on upbringing you’d expect to hate Arthur, instead comes to love him and to be devoted to his friends. There’s Morgana, whose grudge against Uther drives her to darkness. Each of these characters feels true to the Arthurian legend, but with wonderful Schneider-esque twists added to their journeys. And of course, the books are full of fun Easter eggs (I am emotionally vulnerable at any mention of the Questing Beast, Sir Grummore, and Sir Pellinore).
If it wasn’t obvious, I love this series, and I love this book. I am so grateful to have gotten an ARC and can’t wait to reread when The New Camelot comes out in August!
The friendships thrived in The New Camelot. It wasn’t the case that our heroes got paired off in separate romantic relationships, causing their platonic relationships to take a backseat. We still got tender best friendship moments between Arthur and Lance. The female friendships flourished, with Emry and Guin supporting each other in beautiful ways. And, of course, Gawain was a delight any time he interacted with absolutely anyone.
Robyn Schneider does a really good job with complicated characters, specifically in the category of “Men Who Suck In Really Realistic Ways But Who Are Redeemable Enough to Care About Getting Better And Slowly Improve Themselves.” Several characters in the series fit this bill, but perhaps the best example is Emmett. A big theme in the first two books is how much Emry has to clean up after Emmett’s irresponsibility, all while trudging through a world of achingly relatable sexism. And yet, Emmett is written in such a three-dimensional way that we’re still rooting for him, and over the course of the series, we get to see him become a better—while still imperfect—person. It would have been so much easier to make Emmett (or Jereth, or Lord Agravaine, or Willyt, or—you get the point) a dislikable character through and through. Schneider doesn’t reward these characters for doing the bare minimum in their journeys to becoming less problematic. We just watch them grow, knowing they have a ways left to go, but hopeful that they’ll keep inching closer.
(The one character who has no flaws is Gawain. You cannot convince me otherwise, no matter what half of the French courtiers might say.)
This book introduced a major side character who, understandably, took away a lot of screen time from some of the side characters. The plot choices made sense, though I did wish we checked in a little more with Percival, Tristan, and Emmett, even if just in a single chapter devoted to their antics at Camelot. Also, in my dream of dreams, this book would have had an epilogue about Gawain. And the epilogue would have been 450 pages. And he would have been blissfully happy and chosen first on every one of those pages. (It may be apparent who my favorite character is.)
I reread books 1 and 2 in anticipation of reading this ARC, which both reminded me of how downright fun they are and made me afraid of book 3 not measuring up. But it did! The New Camelot had a lot going on but managed to tie everything up nicely (perhaps with one small exception—justice for our relatable king, the sad and saucy French gargoyle).
One final note: This Arthurian retelling is done with so much care. Having recently reread T.H. White’s The Once and Future King, it is so lovely to see how the essence of the characters is preserved in this retelling. Arthur is the furthest thing from a haughty, bellicose ruler. He is full of love for knowledge, for his friends, for his people. He thinks deeply about fairness and the injustice of war and building a more just society. Gawain, someone who has been dealt a difficult hand, who based on upbringing you’d expect to hate Arthur, instead comes to love him and to be devoted to his friends. There’s Morgana, whose grudge against Uther drives her to darkness. Each of these characters feels true to the Arthurian legend, but with wonderful Schneider-esque twists added to their journeys. And of course, the books are full of fun Easter eggs (I am emotionally vulnerable at any mention of the Questing Beast, Sir Grummore, and Sir Pellinore).
If it wasn’t obvious, I love this series, and I love this book. I am so grateful to have gotten an ARC and can’t wait to reread when The New Camelot comes out in August!
August 30, 2024
2024 Spring Bingo (#SpringIntoLoveBingo🌷): Wish There Was A Midnight Release Party
Oof, I really struggled with the first third of this book even though it thankfully steered away from my annoyances. YES, I understand why Emry's dad is such a misogynist asshat. I even understand why dumbass Arthur and Emmett felt pressured to go with the flow (though really??? Not even a word to Emry before that bullshit court pronouncement??? Hello??? Too out-of-character). But when has Emry ever been so... passive? Why did she just *basically do nothing*? It was such a different Emry from the first two books. Theoretically, I get that the reemergence of a toxic family dynamic can lead to personality shifts, but it made for an unpleasant reading experience.
But from the moment Emry decided to fuck propriety and go against orders? Now we're talking. I especially loved the ambling journey into a magical otherworld. No King Arthur retelling is complete without random quests and magical objects just for the fun of it. Overall, I had a good time and I'm sad this series is coming to an end because the market for irreverent, anachronistic SFF is pretty dead right now. :/
Read via audio (narrated by Rosie Jones).
Disclaimer: I listened to a free audiobook from the publisher (PRH Audio App) in exchange for an honest review.
Oof, I really struggled with the first third of this book even though it thankfully steered away from my annoyances. YES, I understand why Emry's dad is such a misogynist asshat. I even understand why dumbass Arthur and Emmett felt pressured to go with the flow (though really??? Not even a word to Emry before that bullshit court pronouncement??? Hello??? Too out-of-character). But when has Emry ever been so... passive? Why did she just *basically do nothing*? It was such a different Emry from the first two books. Theoretically, I get that the reemergence of a toxic family dynamic can lead to personality shifts, but it made for an unpleasant reading experience.
But from the moment Emry decided to fuck propriety and go against orders? Now we're talking. I especially loved the ambling journey into a magical otherworld. No King Arthur retelling is complete without random quests and magical objects just for the fun of it. Overall, I had a good time and I'm sad this series is coming to an end because the market for irreverent, anachronistic SFF is pretty dead right now. :/
Read via audio (narrated by Rosie Jones).
Disclaimer: I listened to a free audiobook from the publisher (PRH Audio App) in exchange for an honest review.
August 28, 2024
4.5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley, Viking Books, and Penguin Young Readers Group for this advanced copy! You can pick up The New Camelot on August 27, 2024.
A fantastic end to a fantastic trilogy. Robyn Schneider continues to create laughable, lovable moments between our favorite cast of characters, and I couldn't think of a more fitting ending for these heroes of Camelot. Was the book a tad too long? Yes. But I still had a really enjoyable time following Emry and Arthur's adventures.
The ending was also a tad congested with important events, but I'm glad they all occurred. Schneider continues to pay homage to the original tale while putting a unique spin on it in voice and sequence of events.
If you're looking for a light-hearted fantasy full of shenanigans, romance, and thrilling adventures, look no further!
A fantastic end to a fantastic trilogy. Robyn Schneider continues to create laughable, lovable moments between our favorite cast of characters, and I couldn't think of a more fitting ending for these heroes of Camelot. Was the book a tad too long? Yes. But I still had a really enjoyable time following Emry and Arthur's adventures.
The ending was also a tad congested with important events, but I'm glad they all occurred. Schneider continues to pay homage to the original tale while putting a unique spin on it in voice and sequence of events.
If you're looking for a light-hearted fantasy full of shenanigans, romance, and thrilling adventures, look no further!
October 28, 2024
I was really disappointed by this! While I enjoyed the first two books and found the character work there nice, I thought that in this last installment characters regressed back into two dimensions, making illogical decisions which didn't align with their pasts or personalities (and were frustrating besides!). I also thought that the pacing was really awful, and that there was way too much "telling" (especially through clunky dialogue) rather than "showing" through prose or internal monologue. The plot started to feel very untethered, shallowly introducing new settings and characters while neglecting the endearing side characters introduced in earlier books. Overall a very frustrating ending to what was something of a comfort-read for me :(
December 5, 2024
I loved this book! It was a great ending to an incredible trilogy, I loved these books so much. The characters are incredible, and I loved the world building. Seeing the characters all get a happy ending was awesome. (Also, I don’t know how, but somehow I predicted the name of Emmett and Guin’s baby?) Overall it was an amazing read!
October 23, 2024
Literally adore this series so much
February 14, 2025
This trilogy was so fun to read!!! I have not enjoyed a series so much in quite some time, I'm so glad this series was enjoyable from beginning to end.
April 17, 2025
An absolutely fun and delightful series and a 10/10 audiobook!
November 24, 2024
Explain to me how this is the last book? A trilogy? Really? I think Arthur is only eighteen years old. Why isn't she writing more books about them? Ugh. So rude. I loved this so much and really hope the author changes their mind about the whole 'this is the end of the story' thing.
October 24, 2024
We did it guys. We found the best Arthurian retelling. No notes.
September 14, 2024
Aww my dear sweet babies finally have their happy ending! With....maybe more to come? I would love to dive into this universe again!
As a whole, this trilogy is such a good Arthurian retelling. It has queer characters, lots of hijinks, and some wild adventures that bring forth character growth and a lot of love for this small cast of characters. This trilogy is easily one of my favorite series, and I see it becoming a comfort read for years to come!
This installment starts off a little rocky, as Arthur is trying to settle into the role of king, and he makes some big dumb boy moves that pushes Emery away from him. I felt like yelling at him through the book, he was being SO DUMB! He made some questionable decisions, but it also helped him understand the role better, and what he wanted out of it. Arthur really came into his own in this book, and it was so easy to see how far he came by the end of the book.
Emery has some good development too, and she does some wild things with magic! She does have to grapple with some *stuff* in this book that is hard to get past, but just like Arthur - everything ends up okay in the end. I think she leaves her with a better relationship with some family member(s), she learns more about herself as a wizard (NOT a witch), and she learns to love Arthur a little deeper to.
All of the characters have come so far in three short books, and it makes my heart full to see how they all end up. This book had some heart wrenching moments in it, BUT everyone ends up okay in the end - just keep that in mind. I have tabbed so many lines throughout the story - so many good one liners, snarkiness of characters, and moments that made my heart sad or soar.
The only thing I felt was a tad bit rushed was the whole Bellicent plot line. She was such a huge part of this story, and I could have easily seen a whole book for dealing with her (or at least a couple chapters). I was seriously concerned about everything wrapping up in this one, there is a lot that happened! The pacing of everything else was so good, I think I wasn't expecting her finale to be so quick.
Overall, I absolutely love these characters and this trilogy. These books make my heart happy! The whole adventure was great, from start to finish. I love the pastel covers, Arthur & Emery's romance, and all the hijinks the characters get up to throughout the story. This is such a strong entry in the "Arthurian retelling" sub-genre, and I hope this trilogy gets all the love it deserves.
Content warnings: death, loss of a loved one, war themes, violence, injury, gaslighting, drug use (fantasy based)
As a whole, this trilogy is such a good Arthurian retelling. It has queer characters, lots of hijinks, and some wild adventures that bring forth character growth and a lot of love for this small cast of characters. This trilogy is easily one of my favorite series, and I see it becoming a comfort read for years to come!
This installment starts off a little rocky, as Arthur is trying to settle into the role of king, and he makes some big dumb boy moves that pushes Emery away from him. I felt like yelling at him through the book, he was being SO DUMB! He made some questionable decisions, but it also helped him understand the role better, and what he wanted out of it. Arthur really came into his own in this book, and it was so easy to see how far he came by the end of the book.
Emery has some good development too, and she does some wild things with magic! She does have to grapple with some *stuff* in this book that is hard to get past, but just like Arthur - everything ends up okay in the end. I think she leaves her with a better relationship with some family member(s), she learns more about herself as a wizard (NOT a witch), and she learns to love Arthur a little deeper to.
All of the characters have come so far in three short books, and it makes my heart full to see how they all end up. This book had some heart wrenching moments in it, BUT everyone ends up okay in the end - just keep that in mind. I have tabbed so many lines throughout the story - so many good one liners, snarkiness of characters, and moments that made my heart sad or soar.
The only thing I felt was a tad bit rushed was the whole Bellicent plot line. She was such a huge part of this story, and I could have easily seen a whole book for dealing with her (or at least a couple chapters). I was seriously concerned about everything wrapping up in this one, there is a lot that happened! The pacing of everything else was so good, I think I wasn't expecting her finale to be so quick.
Overall, I absolutely love these characters and this trilogy. These books make my heart happy! The whole adventure was great, from start to finish. I love the pastel covers, Arthur & Emery's romance, and all the hijinks the characters get up to throughout the story. This is such a strong entry in the "Arthurian retelling" sub-genre, and I hope this trilogy gets all the love it deserves.
Content warnings: death, loss of a loved one, war themes, violence, injury, gaslighting, drug use (fantasy based)
November 12, 2024
Penguin Teen and NetGalley, thanks for the gifted copy! I also listened to the @prhaudio audiobook through Libby, and wow—the narrator was amazing. She truly brought each character to life, adding depth and personality that made the story even more engaging.
✨ Just finished The New Camelot by Robyn Schneider, and it’s such a unique spin on the Arthurian legend! If you love retellings with a twist, this is one for the list.
What I loved:
• 💫 Gender-bent Merlin: Emry Merlin as a young woman finding her magic and her voice.
• 🏳️🌈 Inclusive cast: A nonbinary knight, complex friendships, and modern takes on identity.
• 🌟 Character growth: Arthur and Emry figuring out their roles in a world that expects so much.
• ⚔️ Classic tropes, fresh takes: Camelot, magic, knights—all with a more progressive twist.
A quick, modern fantasy with strong character vibes and a Camelot you haven’t seen before!
It is also worth noting that I did not realize this was part of a trilogy and it worked perfectly as a standalone as well!
✨ Just finished The New Camelot by Robyn Schneider, and it’s such a unique spin on the Arthurian legend! If you love retellings with a twist, this is one for the list.
What I loved:
• 💫 Gender-bent Merlin: Emry Merlin as a young woman finding her magic and her voice.
• 🏳️🌈 Inclusive cast: A nonbinary knight, complex friendships, and modern takes on identity.
• 🌟 Character growth: Arthur and Emry figuring out their roles in a world that expects so much.
• ⚔️ Classic tropes, fresh takes: Camelot, magic, knights—all with a more progressive twist.
A quick, modern fantasy with strong character vibes and a Camelot you haven’t seen before!
It is also worth noting that I did not realize this was part of a trilogy and it worked perfectly as a standalone as well!
October 17, 2024
This was the perfect ending to a fantastic trilogy. I couldn't rave enough about it. You get Arthurian legend, magic, found family, people changing when presented with new information, acceptance, creating a new, progressive Camelot, and lots of representation. It even has knights with PTSD, which was so clever to include, because why had I never thought about that with medieval fighting.
I continue to love the plots for the side characters, and I would love there to be a Gaiwain spinoff. 🤣 There are great female and nonbinary characters (and some great dude characters too, sure) and characters who in the past would have been written as an aside or as weak, got to be strong.
If you liked Legendborn, I think you would enjoy this. Totally different plots and timelines, but similar vibes!
Thanks to Netgalley and Viking Books for Young Readers for the e-ARC!
I continue to love the plots for the side characters, and I would love there to be a Gaiwain spinoff. 🤣 There are great female and nonbinary characters (and some great dude characters too, sure) and characters who in the past would have been written as an aside or as weak, got to be strong.
If you liked Legendborn, I think you would enjoy this. Totally different plots and timelines, but similar vibes!
Thanks to Netgalley and Viking Books for Young Readers for the e-ARC!
March 29, 2024
3.75./5 stars! I have liked everything I have read by author Robyn Schneider and New Camelot was no exception. There is an element of historical fantasy with this series, as it is a loose Camelot retelling. The cast of characters is endearing and full of depth. It is a bit of a younger read, but its a YA book, so that is to be expected.
I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 26, 2025
this was fantastic. I loved the humour and banter, it was hilarious. the ending left me a little disappointed, but I'm okay with that.
September 22, 2024
This book was sooooo good! I love it from beginning to end. Very satisfied with the ending and it was the right way to tie the knot lol. Good paced and entertaining.
September 22, 2024
I was pretty disappointed by how the last book in the series was written especially when the series had so much potential and the first two books were great. I loved how even in the old era, the author was writing of a world that would be peaceful, accepting and tolerant and above all, the women would finally have a voice and wouldn't have to fight so hard for the power and respect they deserved. The author tried to accomplish but couldn't fully do it. I hated the fact that even after Emry realizes and confronts Arthur for always putting her last and never actually listening to her when she's always right, she goes back to him, not because she knows he is wrong but wants to do the right thing regardless by defying him but because her brother spews a bunch of bullshit that basically comes down to mean that she is the problem which isn't true at all. Also, I hated, absolutely loathed that the precursor for Arthur finally changing was Sir Tor's words who essentially said the SAME DAMN THING Emry said to him about his council months ago. He dismissed her words but chose to listen to Sir Tor. That's the very definition of what happens to women every single day when their ideas are overlooked simply because of their gender! I truly wish it would've been Emry who had convinced Arthur to see the truth.
Also, if you're looking to this book as a romance genre, please look somewhere else because first, romance is a very small subplot here and even then it isn't done correctly. Honestly, Arthur and Lance have more love and chemistry in this book than Emry and Arthur. I mean, the man is a king and can't stand up for his girlfriend but has no problem stirring chaos for his best friend. That should tell you everything there is to say about how doomed A and E are. From book 1, the author had tried very hard to make them work but she never gets it right, not even by the ending. The ending of this book in itself is also a huge let down for me. I can't believe that the same guy who is destined to be a great king and everyone around him keeps reiterating what a good king he is, would just say "All this has been too much so now I have decided to take an extended vacation and would be back when Camelot needs me" to travel the world with his knight champion and his court wizard/girlfriend, RIGHT AFTER THE WAR ENDED! Like dude! You literally woke up from dead and you need to help rebuild the kingdom but you want to gallivant around the world and let your council rule your country in your behest when you fought so hard to bring a huge change? This twist truly made no sense at all. I know exactly what the author was going for with the whole "quest" thing that the knights of the round table were famous for in the original tale but it didn't land correctly in this scenario.
A and E's relationship status was also left so open ended where Emry still isn't sure where they would end up. They briefly took about marriage in future but in the context of "if I decide to marry you" way. Listen, I understand that they are 19 yr olds with their whole life ahead of them but this is also ancient England where people are married and have children by then. (See Guin and Emmett, they get HEA but not the main characters?!!!) The least the author could've done for us was write an amazing epilogue a few years in the future and given us a HEA! It's not like she was going to follow the original tale of the love triangle between Arthur, Lance and Emry.
The book still deserves three starts for the brilliant writing, world building, the twists and turns in the actual plotline that keeps you hooked for nearly 500 pages. I absolutely loved what the author did with the Tiernan, Rhiannon and Haf in Otherworld, writing a reimagined storyline within a story. I also love how every character in this book serves a purpose and how many of them are not so black and white. Like many other readers, I do think Gawain deserved so much better and I hope, he gets his own series where he gets the ending he should've gotten.
Also, if you're looking to this book as a romance genre, please look somewhere else because first, romance is a very small subplot here and even then it isn't done correctly. Honestly, Arthur and Lance have more love and chemistry in this book than Emry and Arthur. I mean, the man is a king and can't stand up for his girlfriend but has no problem stirring chaos for his best friend. That should tell you everything there is to say about how doomed A and E are. From book 1, the author had tried very hard to make them work but she never gets it right, not even by the ending. The ending of this book in itself is also a huge let down for me. I can't believe that the same guy who is destined to be a great king and everyone around him keeps reiterating what a good king he is, would just say "All this has been too much so now I have decided to take an extended vacation and would be back when Camelot needs me" to travel the world with his knight champion and his court wizard/girlfriend, RIGHT AFTER THE WAR ENDED! Like dude! You literally woke up from dead and you need to help rebuild the kingdom but you want to gallivant around the world and let your council rule your country in your behest when you fought so hard to bring a huge change? This twist truly made no sense at all. I know exactly what the author was going for with the whole "quest" thing that the knights of the round table were famous for in the original tale but it didn't land correctly in this scenario.
A and E's relationship status was also left so open ended where Emry still isn't sure where they would end up. They briefly took about marriage in future but in the context of "if I decide to marry you" way. Listen, I understand that they are 19 yr olds with their whole life ahead of them but this is also ancient England where people are married and have children by then. (See Guin and Emmett, they get HEA but not the main characters?!!!) The least the author could've done for us was write an amazing epilogue a few years in the future and given us a HEA! It's not like she was going to follow the original tale of the love triangle between Arthur, Lance and Emry.
The book still deserves three starts for the brilliant writing, world building, the twists and turns in the actual plotline that keeps you hooked for nearly 500 pages. I absolutely loved what the author did with the Tiernan, Rhiannon and Haf in Otherworld, writing a reimagined storyline within a story. I also love how every character in this book serves a purpose and how many of them are not so black and white. Like many other readers, I do think Gawain deserved so much better and I hope, he gets his own series where he gets the ending he should've gotten.
June 7, 2025
As someone who is a huge fan of the BBC's Merlin, I am so in love with the premise of this book series! I really love this fresh take on the Arthurian legend and the way in which moments from the legends as well as from the Mabinogion are reinvented and subverted in this book.
That being said, for me, this book has one major issue which made me get frustrated with the story in a way I really didn't want to.
The New Camelot feels incredibly bullet-pointy to me. There is so much plot in this book, that it could easily have been split into two. But because it ended up being just one book, it feels like nothing is given enough space and time. Moments that, in theory, should have an incredibly emotional impact, just don't land for me because we're rushing through them so much. I just need some time in the moment to fear for characters or grieve for them.
I also feel like some of the characters suffer from the contrivedness of the plot. Many of their relationships, such as Lance and Percy's and Emry and her father's, just feel a little heavy-handed and informed. There is no real subtlety or nuance in the way Merlin treats his daughter, because the book needs to establish how sexist he is as fast as possible so it can move on to the next plot point.
I really love this story and many of the character arches, but because the book is so overstuffed, it just doesn't deliver the emotional gut punches that it absolutely has the potential for.
That being said, for me, this book has one major issue which made me get frustrated with the story in a way I really didn't want to.
The New Camelot feels incredibly bullet-pointy to me. There is so much plot in this book, that it could easily have been split into two. But because it ended up being just one book, it feels like nothing is given enough space and time. Moments that, in theory, should have an incredibly emotional impact, just don't land for me because we're rushing through them so much. I just need some time in the moment to fear for characters or grieve for them.
I also feel like some of the characters suffer from the contrivedness of the plot. Many of their relationships, such as Lance and Percy's and Emry and her father's, just feel a little heavy-handed and informed. There is no real subtlety or nuance in the way Merlin treats his daughter, because the book needs to establish how sexist he is as fast as possible so it can move on to the next plot point.
I really love this story and many of the character arches, but because the book is so overstuffed, it just doesn't deliver the emotional gut punches that it absolutely has the potential for.
September 8, 2024
sigh. This was so incredibly disappointing. Barely any Emry and Arthur coupleness and WAY too many extra POVs of people I did not care about!!!
Do you honestly think I need entire chapters of freaking Gaiwan going to France? It really slowed down the story and added nothing to the plot.
This really should’ve been between the two of them and maybe a few of Morgana, but honestly, even those were boring. I appreciate the nods to the legend and it was so clever but this finale was not it. And I loved this concept and the first two so so much!
I’m heartbroken this ended on a bad note, but at least I had Emry for a little bit.
Do you honestly think I need entire chapters of freaking Gaiwan going to France? It really slowed down the story and added nothing to the plot.
This really should’ve been between the two of them and maybe a few of Morgana, but honestly, even those were boring. I appreciate the nods to the legend and it was so clever but this finale was not it. And I loved this concept and the first two so so much!
I’m heartbroken this ended on a bad note, but at least I had Emry for a little bit.
October 5, 2024
The finale for this Arthurian retelling is here, and it is one you do not want to miss. While friendships are strong, peril threatens to being Camelot to its knees. With Arthur at the helm, we see his struggles with being the king he is expected to be versus the king he wants to be.
Emery's father, the great Master Merlin is finally back and ready to take back his glory, and it's surprising how little he thinks of Emery due to her womanhood. No amount of magical complexity can change his mind, and, as a woman, it was so frustrating to watch. His lot in life at the end was ...appropriate and somehow a happy ending as you can get for a man obsessed with himself.
Gwen is as delightful as ever. She's juggling a lot, but tries to be a good friend and wife. Her emotions are real and they're not always pretty. I love that about her. Unfortunately, she and Emmett really take a back seat in this book.
Morgana continues to feel like your stereotypical villain with mommy problems. I mean yea, she doesn't have the greatest home life, but I had lost all sympathy for her pretty much before even starting book 3. by the end, I still kind of disliked her, but it did not end how I thought it would. I'll say that much.
Lancelot continues to be the best cinnamon roll, and finally gets the break he deserves, along with someone who believed in him. It was such a sweet, precious journey to see him grow, even with some of the PTSD he dealt with in book 3.
We get to spend some time in Anwen again, doing some questing. Schneider is a master of making something serious hilarious. I genuinely hope she writes more in this genre, because I love her comedic voice.
Overall a very satisfying ending to a quick favorite of mine. and I desperately hope the author dables more into the world or retellings, because she has a true knack for it.
I'll miss emery and the gang terribly, but am content with the way it ended.
Emery's father, the great Master Merlin is finally back and ready to take back his glory, and it's surprising how little he thinks of Emery due to her womanhood. No amount of magical complexity can change his mind, and, as a woman, it was so frustrating to watch. His lot in life at the end was ...appropriate and somehow a happy ending as you can get for a man obsessed with himself.
Gwen is as delightful as ever. She's juggling a lot, but tries to be a good friend and wife. Her emotions are real and they're not always pretty. I love that about her. Unfortunately, she and Emmett really take a back seat in this book.
Morgana continues to feel like your stereotypical villain with mommy problems. I mean yea, she doesn't have the greatest home life, but I had lost all sympathy for her pretty much before even starting book 3. by the end, I still kind of disliked her, but it did not end how I thought it would. I'll say that much.
Lancelot continues to be the best cinnamon roll, and finally gets the break he deserves, along with someone who believed in him. It was such a sweet, precious journey to see him grow, even with some of the PTSD he dealt with in book 3.
We get to spend some time in Anwen again, doing some questing. Schneider is a master of making something serious hilarious. I genuinely hope she writes more in this genre, because I love her comedic voice.
Overall a very satisfying ending to a quick favorite of mine. and I desperately hope the author dables more into the world or retellings, because she has a true knack for it.
I'll miss emery and the gang terribly, but am content with the way it ended.
July 23, 2024
Honestly my least favorite of the series, so annoying.
Thanks Netgalley for the ARC. I LOVED the Other Merlin, it was funny and smart and a fresh take on an overdone story. But when the series went from a duology to trilogy I had my doubts. SO many YA authors do this and IDK if its their choice or the publisher. But in a lot of cases it doesn't work and is super unnecessary.
This series would have functioned better as a duology. I remembered there were some things that we didn't need or dragged in book two. And in book three like half of it feels pointless and slow. Is this had been edited out BAM duology.
The problem is we jump POVs a lot and Morgana's POV is useless like honestly did not enjoy reading from her perspective. Her 'change of heart' feels false and slow and it really doesn't matter. The group also wanders from quest to quest and takes you away from the major storylines.
And Arthur being a butt in the first half was such a character swap.
Spoilers follow
Merlin has returned and is intent on being the court wizard again even though he barely has any magic and he takes the spot from his daughter and then treats her like crap cause she is a girl and he doesn't think she should do magic. He doesn't believe she is talented and tries to make her brother good at magic and he's a butt too and just thinks this is ok and that his sister deserves to be knocked down a peg (she doesn't). Arthur lets all this happen he listens to his crusty advisors and ruins everything.
He finally gets a talking too and goes off on the quest to find a way to defeat a magical army. Anyway they get this magic horn, they defeat the army. Arthur dies and comes back to life. And then they return to Camelot, and he's like, I'm gonna travel and abandon my duties as king to go with Emry. So STUPID.
Thanks Netgalley for the ARC. I LOVED the Other Merlin, it was funny and smart and a fresh take on an overdone story. But when the series went from a duology to trilogy I had my doubts. SO many YA authors do this and IDK if its their choice or the publisher. But in a lot of cases it doesn't work and is super unnecessary.
This series would have functioned better as a duology. I remembered there were some things that we didn't need or dragged in book two. And in book three like half of it feels pointless and slow. Is this had been edited out BAM duology.
The problem is we jump POVs a lot and Morgana's POV is useless like honestly did not enjoy reading from her perspective. Her 'change of heart' feels false and slow and it really doesn't matter. The group also wanders from quest to quest and takes you away from the major storylines.
And Arthur being a butt in the first half was such a character swap.
Spoilers follow
Merlin has returned and is intent on being the court wizard again even though he barely has any magic and he takes the spot from his daughter and then treats her like crap cause she is a girl and he doesn't think she should do magic. He doesn't believe she is talented and tries to make her brother good at magic and he's a butt too and just thinks this is ok and that his sister deserves to be knocked down a peg (she doesn't). Arthur lets all this happen he listens to his crusty advisors and ruins everything.
He finally gets a talking too and goes off on the quest to find a way to defeat a magical army. Anyway they get this magic horn, they defeat the army. Arthur dies and comes back to life. And then they return to Camelot, and he's like, I'm gonna travel and abandon my duties as king to go with Emry. So STUPID.
November 21, 2024
This review originally appeared on the book review blog: Just One More Pa(i)ge.
Y'all, I have been waitingggggg for this finale. This trilogy has been the hilarious queer magical YA King Aruthur retelling escapism of my dreams and I was so ready for this last book.
The Goodreads blurb: "Everything is finally going right for Emry Merlin. Now that Arthur is the king and her wayward magic is under control, she’s enjoying life as Camelot’s official court wizard—and as Arthur’s girlfriend. But when an unexpected visitor arrives at court, Emry finds her hard-won position threatened. And Arthur is torn between listening to his advisors and following his heart. Even more troubling, war is on the horizon, with King Yurien’s access to dark magic ensuring Camelot’s doom. That is, unless Emry, Arthur, and Lance can find a way to defeat the evil sorceress Bellicent with magic from her own world. But undertaking a quest to Anwen is perilous business, and our young heroes will face many obstacles on their journey—from dangerous beasts to suspicious nobles to cursed maidens determined to find someone to marry.Can Emry and Arthur save their kingdom and fix their relationship, or will they have to choose between their future and Camelot’s?"
Well, let me get the iffy thing out of the way first. If I'm being honest, the writing is pretty choppy, bouncing from scene to scene and chapter to chapter with less smoothness than in the last two. It's not bad writing, it's more like, bad cuts between scenes? Like there is so much to get into this final book that it's almost rushed. And there were lots of great elements! For real, there were maybe too many of them. I do feel like the flow started settling by about a third of the way in (or perhaps I just got accustomed to the choppiness by then). But the pacing remained just a little off throughout (in particular, the journey to Anwin in this one felt...slow, and maybe unnecessary, to me?). Overall, solid, but just lower quality writing and pacing than the previous.
Character-wise, SChneider continued to crush it with this YA cast. Oh, the Arthur-Emry angst is so real! Guin is awesome (and really comes into her own here) and the juxtaposition of her and Emmett happily trading "traditional" gender roles is a favorite aspect of mine. I love love Gawain. Like, I legit forgot how much I love this rewriting of his character. And speaking of rewritings, I love the remake Lance gets as well. They all kept their personalities and joking fun, balanced with increasing responsibility and stress that comes with age. The newest addition in this last book, Sir Tor, plays a phenomenal quiet, outside-the-institution, different-POV, advisor role that does a gorgeous job illustrating the importance of even just one trusted adult in a young person’s and the effect that can have on their life/mental health/resilience. Even the "bad guys," like Morgana and Mordred got really creative remade character arcs. I thought they were dynamic and fresh and I liked them a lot.
On the other hand, I'm going to be honest here, I just hated Emry’s dad so much. Every part he was in gave me UGH feels. He was the worst as a parent and role model. While he was written in well, and it gave space in the narrative for a really mature development in parent child-relationships (the younger realizing the older will not change, the older accepting the younger has surpassed them in many ways, and both working towards acceptance of that), I just wished he wasn't there. I felt like his presence really took away from some of the lightheartedness of the first two books and wished he could have stayed disappeared and Emry/Emmett could still have had coming of age arcs in other ways. Personal preference.
Anyways, despite my hatred of the elder Merlin, there were overall fantastic character growth and story arcs. All the realizations and growing-ups that happened were spectacular. Plot-wise, I wasn’t sure how this was going to be to wrap (the ending isn’t really a happy one in the traditional tales), but it was so perfect! Some magical pieces that were "convenient," of course, but the mix of original and predictable was done well. And the ultimate finale was an absolutely hilarious twist on the most famous quest in western history! Loved that. Way to keep the fun vibes to close the series.
In the end, this series was just SO much fun, so good. It was lively and diverting and entertaining from start to finish.
“She could feel herself becoming smaller. Lesser. [...] The negative space in relation to powerful men, rather than her own person.”
“They both held themselves arrogantly, like men who had the kind of power that couldn;t be taken away. Like men who expected the whole world to respect them, and bend to their will. The worst part was, it too often did.” (it’s not subtle, but it’s YA...and it’s not wrong)
“He’d just have to learn. He was good at learning. Besides, no one was born knowing how to do a job they’d never had.”
“How will we learn from our mistakes if we don’t make any?”
“You defend those who cannot defend themselves. And you inspire others to do the same. This world you dream of, where anyone can earn their place regardless of gender, or station, or whom they love is one that I would very much like to help you build.”
“He should have decided sooner that he didn’t care what people thought. It wasn’t worth exhausting himself trying to live up to everyone else’s impossible and exacting standards.”
“I’m saying that whatever is haunting you isn't you. It's just your fears. And you can be fearful and brave at the same time. You don't have to be only one thing.”
Y'all, I have been waitingggggg for this finale. This trilogy has been the hilarious queer magical YA King Aruthur retelling escapism of my dreams and I was so ready for this last book.
The Goodreads blurb: "Everything is finally going right for Emry Merlin. Now that Arthur is the king and her wayward magic is under control, she’s enjoying life as Camelot’s official court wizard—and as Arthur’s girlfriend. But when an unexpected visitor arrives at court, Emry finds her hard-won position threatened. And Arthur is torn between listening to his advisors and following his heart. Even more troubling, war is on the horizon, with King Yurien’s access to dark magic ensuring Camelot’s doom. That is, unless Emry, Arthur, and Lance can find a way to defeat the evil sorceress Bellicent with magic from her own world. But undertaking a quest to Anwen is perilous business, and our young heroes will face many obstacles on their journey—from dangerous beasts to suspicious nobles to cursed maidens determined to find someone to marry.Can Emry and Arthur save their kingdom and fix their relationship, or will they have to choose between their future and Camelot’s?"
Well, let me get the iffy thing out of the way first. If I'm being honest, the writing is pretty choppy, bouncing from scene to scene and chapter to chapter with less smoothness than in the last two. It's not bad writing, it's more like, bad cuts between scenes? Like there is so much to get into this final book that it's almost rushed. And there were lots of great elements! For real, there were maybe too many of them. I do feel like the flow started settling by about a third of the way in (or perhaps I just got accustomed to the choppiness by then). But the pacing remained just a little off throughout (in particular, the journey to Anwin in this one felt...slow, and maybe unnecessary, to me?). Overall, solid, but just lower quality writing and pacing than the previous.
Character-wise, SChneider continued to crush it with this YA cast. Oh, the Arthur-Emry angst is so real! Guin is awesome (and really comes into her own here) and the juxtaposition of her and Emmett happily trading "traditional" gender roles is a favorite aspect of mine. I love love Gawain. Like, I legit forgot how much I love this rewriting of his character. And speaking of rewritings, I love the remake Lance gets as well. They all kept their personalities and joking fun, balanced with increasing responsibility and stress that comes with age. The newest addition in this last book, Sir Tor, plays a phenomenal quiet, outside-the-institution, different-POV, advisor role that does a gorgeous job illustrating the importance of even just one trusted adult in a young person’s and the effect that can have on their life/mental health/resilience. Even the "bad guys," like Morgana and Mordred got really creative remade character arcs. I thought they were dynamic and fresh and I liked them a lot.
On the other hand, I'm going to be honest here, I just hated Emry’s dad so much. Every part he was in gave me UGH feels. He was the worst as a parent and role model. While he was written in well, and it gave space in the narrative for a really mature development in parent child-relationships (the younger realizing the older will not change, the older accepting the younger has surpassed them in many ways, and both working towards acceptance of that), I just wished he wasn't there. I felt like his presence really took away from some of the lightheartedness of the first two books and wished he could have stayed disappeared and Emry/Emmett could still have had coming of age arcs in other ways. Personal preference.
Anyways, despite my hatred of the elder Merlin, there were overall fantastic character growth and story arcs. All the realizations and growing-ups that happened were spectacular. Plot-wise, I wasn’t sure how this was going to be to wrap (the ending isn’t really a happy one in the traditional tales), but it was so perfect! Some magical pieces that were "convenient," of course, but the mix of original and predictable was done well. And the ultimate finale was an absolutely hilarious twist on the most famous quest in western history! Loved that. Way to keep the fun vibes to close the series.
In the end, this series was just SO much fun, so good. It was lively and diverting and entertaining from start to finish.
“She could feel herself becoming smaller. Lesser. [...] The negative space in relation to powerful men, rather than her own person.”
“They both held themselves arrogantly, like men who had the kind of power that couldn;t be taken away. Like men who expected the whole world to respect them, and bend to their will. The worst part was, it too often did.” (it’s not subtle, but it’s YA...and it’s not wrong)
“He’d just have to learn. He was good at learning. Besides, no one was born knowing how to do a job they’d never had.”
“How will we learn from our mistakes if we don’t make any?”
“You defend those who cannot defend themselves. And you inspire others to do the same. This world you dream of, where anyone can earn their place regardless of gender, or station, or whom they love is one that I would very much like to help you build.”
“He should have decided sooner that he didn’t care what people thought. It wasn’t worth exhausting himself trying to live up to everyone else’s impossible and exacting standards.”
“I’m saying that whatever is haunting you isn't you. It's just your fears. And you can be fearful and brave at the same time. You don't have to be only one thing.”
Want to read
January 7, 2024If I knew the third book wasn't out yet I wouldn't have read the first two so quickly TᴖT. Ill just have to settle for counting down the days until August 27th, then.
November 15, 2025
I was pretty disappointed by how the last book in the series was written especially when the series had so much potential and the first two books were great. I loved how even in the old era, the author was writing of a world that would be peaceful, accepting and tolerant and above all, the women would finally have a voice and wouldn't have to fight so hard for the power and respect they deserved. The author tried to accomplish but couldn't fully do it. I hated the fact that even after Emry realizes and confronts Arthur for always putting her last and never actually listening to her when she's always right, she goes back to him, not because she knows he is wrong but wants to do the right thing regardless by defying him but because her brother spews a bunch of bullshit that basically comes down to mean that she is the problem which isn't true at all. Also, I hated, absolutely loathed that the precursor for Arthur finally changing was Sir Tor's words who essentially said the SAME DAMN THING Emry said to him about his council months ago. He dismissed her words but chose to listen to Sir Tor. That's the very definition of what happens to women every single day when their ideas are overlooked simply because of their gender! I truly wish it would've been Emry who had convinced Arthur to see the truth.
Also, if you're looking to this book as a romance genre, please look somewhere else because first, romance is a very small subplot here and even then it isn't done correctly. Honestly, Arthur and Lance have more love and chemistry in this book than Emry and Arthur. I mean, the man is a king and can't stand up for his girlfriend but has no problem stirring chaos for his best friend. That should tell you everything there is to say about how doomed A and E are. From book 1, the author had tried very hard to make them work but she never gets it right, not even by the ending. The ending of this book in itself is also a huge let down for me. I can't believe that the same guy who is destined to be a great king and everyone around him keeps reiterating what a good king he is, would just say "All this has been too much so now I have decided to take an extended vacation and would be back when Camelot needs me" to travel the world with his knight champion and his court wizard/girlfriend, RIGHT AFTER THE WAR ENDED! Like dude! You literally woke up from dead and you need to help rebuild the kingdom but you want to gallivant around the world and let your council rule your country in your behest when you fought so hard to bring a huge change? This twist truly made no sense at all. I know exactly what the author was going for with the whole "quest" thing that the knights of the round table were famous for in the original tale but it didn't land correctly in this scenario.
A and E's relationship status was also left so open ended where Emry still isn't sure where they would end up. They briefly took about marriage in future but in the context of "if I decide to marry you" way. Listen, I understand that they are 19 yr olds with their whole life ahead of them but this is also ancient England where people are married and have children by then. (See Guin and Emmett, they get HEA but not the main characters?!!!) The least the author could've done for us was write an amazing epilogue a few years in the future and given us a HEA! It's not like she was going to follow the original tale of the love triangle between Arthur, Lance and Emry.
The book still deserves three starts for the brilliant writing, world building, the twists and turns in the actual plotline that keeps you hooked for nearly 500 pages. I absolutely loved what the author did with the Tiernan, Rhiannon and Haf in Otherworld, writing a reimagined storyline within a story. I also love how every character in this book serves a purpose and how many of them are not so black and white. Like many other readers, I do think Gawain deserved so much better and I hope, he gets his own series where he gets the ending he should've gotten.
Also, if you're looking to this book as a romance genre, please look somewhere else because first, romance is a very small subplot here and even then it isn't done correctly. Honestly, Arthur and Lance have more love and chemistry in this book than Emry and Arthur. I mean, the man is a king and can't stand up for his girlfriend but has no problem stirring chaos for his best friend. That should tell you everything there is to say about how doomed A and E are. From book 1, the author had tried very hard to make them work but she never gets it right, not even by the ending. The ending of this book in itself is also a huge let down for me. I can't believe that the same guy who is destined to be a great king and everyone around him keeps reiterating what a good king he is, would just say "All this has been too much so now I have decided to take an extended vacation and would be back when Camelot needs me" to travel the world with his knight champion and his court wizard/girlfriend, RIGHT AFTER THE WAR ENDED! Like dude! You literally woke up from dead and you need to help rebuild the kingdom but you want to gallivant around the world and let your council rule your country in your behest when you fought so hard to bring a huge change? This twist truly made no sense at all. I know exactly what the author was going for with the whole "quest" thing that the knights of the round table were famous for in the original tale but it didn't land correctly in this scenario.
A and E's relationship status was also left so open ended where Emry still isn't sure where they would end up. They briefly took about marriage in future but in the context of "if I decide to marry you" way. Listen, I understand that they are 19 yr olds with their whole life ahead of them but this is also ancient England where people are married and have children by then. (See Guin and Emmett, they get HEA but not the main characters?!!!) The least the author could've done for us was write an amazing epilogue a few years in the future and given us a HEA! It's not like she was going to follow the original tale of the love triangle between Arthur, Lance and Emry.
The book still deserves three starts for the brilliant writing, world building, the twists and turns in the actual plotline that keeps you hooked for nearly 500 pages. I absolutely loved what the author did with the Tiernan, Rhiannon and Haf in Otherworld, writing a reimagined storyline within a story. I also love how every character in this book serves a purpose and how many of them are not so black and white. Like many other readers, I do think Gawain deserved so much better and I hope, he gets his own series where he gets the ending he should've gotten.
September 1, 2024
3 stars for the first half of the book, 5 stars for the second. Mild spoilers ahead.
I hate when an established couple whose relationship is strong after the first two books of a trilogy have a Dark Moment in the third that erases almost everything they've built together. I especially hate it when this Dark Moment occurs because one of the MCs acts completely out of character. In this case, Arthur shockingly throws his chief wizard/girlfriend Emry under the bus and breaks her heart. Okay, he has Reasons (as if being a 19 year old boy isn't enough), and he more than makes up for his betrayal in the book's second half. Still, it was hard to read 200 pages of Arthur and Emry estranged, unable to snark at, playfully insult, or kiss each other.
But once that huge error is rectified, the couple is stronger than ever, and the book hurtles towards the inevitable conflict between Good and Evil. The climax got me in the feelz even though I was pretty sure that Schneider wouldn't pull a David Nicholls on me (IYKYK). Everyone in this delightful Beverly Hills 90210 crossed with The Mists of Avalon* gang of friends gets a perfect ending - loyal Lancelot, himbo Emmett, butter-wouldn't-melt-in-her-mouth Guinevere, and charming scoundrel Gawain. Arthur, who has struggled with his royal responsibilities and Emry, who has chafed against traditional feminine roles, find a way to be true to themselves and their kingdom.
Please note that The New Camelot follows The Other Merlin and The Future King, and doesn't work as a standalone. The trilogy is YA with fade-to-black sex, numerous queer characters, irreverent humor, and cinema-ready action. I'm gradually weaning myself off YA novels (because Reasons) but I'm glad I saw this series through to its satisfying end.
*Yes, I know the author is problematic
I hate when an established couple whose relationship is strong after the first two books of a trilogy have a Dark Moment in the third that erases almost everything they've built together. I especially hate it when this Dark Moment occurs because one of the MCs acts completely out of character. In this case, Arthur shockingly throws his chief wizard/girlfriend Emry under the bus and breaks her heart. Okay, he has Reasons (as if being a 19 year old boy isn't enough), and he more than makes up for his betrayal in the book's second half. Still, it was hard to read 200 pages of Arthur and Emry estranged, unable to snark at, playfully insult, or kiss each other.
But once that huge error is rectified, the couple is stronger than ever, and the book hurtles towards the inevitable conflict between Good and Evil. The climax got me in the feelz even though I was pretty sure that Schneider wouldn't pull a David Nicholls on me (IYKYK). Everyone in this delightful Beverly Hills 90210 crossed with The Mists of Avalon* gang of friends gets a perfect ending - loyal Lancelot, himbo Emmett, butter-wouldn't-melt-in-her-mouth Guinevere, and charming scoundrel Gawain. Arthur, who has struggled with his royal responsibilities and Emry, who has chafed against traditional feminine roles, find a way to be true to themselves and their kingdom.
Please note that The New Camelot follows The Other Merlin and The Future King, and doesn't work as a standalone. The trilogy is YA with fade-to-black sex, numerous queer characters, irreverent humor, and cinema-ready action. I'm gradually weaning myself off YA novels (because Reasons) but I'm glad I saw this series through to its satisfying end.
*Yes, I know the author is problematic
September 9, 2024
5 stars!
This was an absolutely wonderful end to this series. I adore this series and while I am sad it is over, I am so glad for the journey. This story was so full of heart, friendship, and lots of humor. This book series is truly like a warm hug!
I started reading the ebook (thank you Penguin Teen!) but then switched over to the audio on release because listening to these is a delight. The narrator is excellent and really brings the characters to life.
~mild spoilers ahead! ~
The characters shine through in so many ways. They are written with many layers and we learn more and more about them on their journal and how they deal with tough situations. Emry is such a standout for me in the way she knows when to compromise but also when to stand her ground and not give an inch. She works on this boundary through the series and I loved watching her grow. The struggles of being a women in a male dominated world really cut through for me with her character. Emry’s struggle are so REAL and relatable. The beginning of The New Camelot specifically brings Emry’s dad back into the picture which not only creates a weird power dynamic but also an authority figure back into her life. I wanted to strangle Willyt at the beginning of this book and I kept begging that he would come to his senses and realize what his actions were hurting Emry. Robyn does a wonderful job of turning the ship around for him but not without struggle. You can tell there was so much care put into the character’s and their arcs.
In terms of plot, this book packed a punch! These characters deal with turmoil and change in Camelot and then set out to save it from an impending war with King Yurien. This quest takes them to new worlds, new people, and new characters. There was A LOT going on as we progressed through the book and while I could see all the strands being woven, I could NOT see the final picture until we were there! It really kept me on my toes. The ending was SO satisfying.
While I loved spending time with Arthur and gang, I would have loved to see a bit more of Guinevere stepping into her power and finding her passion and purpose and Emmett navigating his new life. ALSO more Gawain! I loved him and would have loved to see him explored more and have more moments with Emry and Gawain.
This series is so special and I adore it. It’s such an uplifting and empowering experience and I one I will be happily returning to one day. Thank you to Penguin Teen for the arc!
This was an absolutely wonderful end to this series. I adore this series and while I am sad it is over, I am so glad for the journey. This story was so full of heart, friendship, and lots of humor. This book series is truly like a warm hug!
I started reading the ebook (thank you Penguin Teen!) but then switched over to the audio on release because listening to these is a delight. The narrator is excellent and really brings the characters to life.
~mild spoilers ahead! ~
The characters shine through in so many ways. They are written with many layers and we learn more and more about them on their journal and how they deal with tough situations. Emry is such a standout for me in the way she knows when to compromise but also when to stand her ground and not give an inch. She works on this boundary through the series and I loved watching her grow. The struggles of being a women in a male dominated world really cut through for me with her character. Emry’s struggle are so REAL and relatable. The beginning of The New Camelot specifically brings Emry’s dad back into the picture which not only creates a weird power dynamic but also an authority figure back into her life. I wanted to strangle Willyt at the beginning of this book and I kept begging that he would come to his senses and realize what his actions were hurting Emry. Robyn does a wonderful job of turning the ship around for him but not without struggle. You can tell there was so much care put into the character’s and their arcs.
In terms of plot, this book packed a punch! These characters deal with turmoil and change in Camelot and then set out to save it from an impending war with King Yurien. This quest takes them to new worlds, new people, and new characters. There was A LOT going on as we progressed through the book and while I could see all the strands being woven, I could NOT see the final picture until we were there! It really kept me on my toes. The ending was SO satisfying.
While I loved spending time with Arthur and gang, I would have loved to see a bit more of Guinevere stepping into her power and finding her passion and purpose and Emmett navigating his new life. ALSO more Gawain! I loved him and would have loved to see him explored more and have more moments with Emry and Gawain.
This series is so special and I adore it. It’s such an uplifting and empowering experience and I one I will be happily returning to one day. Thank you to Penguin Teen for the arc!
October 21, 2024
Was this a high school drama? Pretending to be a badass Arthurian retelling? I skimmed thru this, barely reading the words and just wanting it to end. The banter was the only thing saving it, but sometimes became a bit too cringe. Arthur and Emry’s romance is basically middle school level, with the whole “on and off again” plot. Thats so annoying. You’re telling me these characters are emerging adults? 18 and 19yo? Then why do they act like they’re 14? God.
Side characters added absolutely nothing to the plot. Except Emery’s dad, Willyt Merlin. His point in the story apparently is to show that all men over the age of 35 suck. Why is he written like such a sleazebag? It just completely ruined the image of him from the last 2 books. Lance was absolutely horrible in this book. There was no point to him except to add a few extra scenes that were completely unnecessary. And Gawain? He’s one of 2 of my fav characters and they make him lovesick?? For emry? Really???? That was so unnecessary. Just to add some drama to the story, but it didn’t even achieve that. Ugh. The only character I actually found interesting was Morgana. Her character arc was pretty good. Going from evil to sort of a gray area, and my heart really went out to her anytime she had to interact with her horrible husband. And the way she loves Mordred is heartbreaking cause she’s watching him turn into his father. Guin and Emmet. Boring. That’s all I can give them. Also, isn’t Arthur supposed to rule all of Great Britain under his command? Why make guin queen of her country? Like I get it, since the author was obviously TRYING SO HARD to push for “girls rule! Boys drool!” concept, but come on. Don’t ya think your laying it on a bit too thick?
The only reason I’m giving this 2 stars is cause of the 2 good characters, SOME funny dialogue, and the mythology was pretty good. I mean, Anwyn and their journey there, Vivianne, mordred killing Arthur, Arthur going back to Avalon…a lot of that is looked over in other Arthurian retelling. So kudos to the author for that.
Side characters added absolutely nothing to the plot. Except Emery’s dad, Willyt Merlin. His point in the story apparently is to show that all men over the age of 35 suck. Why is he written like such a sleazebag? It just completely ruined the image of him from the last 2 books. Lance was absolutely horrible in this book. There was no point to him except to add a few extra scenes that were completely unnecessary. And Gawain? He’s one of 2 of my fav characters and they make him lovesick?? For emry? Really???? That was so unnecessary. Just to add some drama to the story, but it didn’t even achieve that. Ugh. The only character I actually found interesting was Morgana. Her character arc was pretty good. Going from evil to sort of a gray area, and my heart really went out to her anytime she had to interact with her horrible husband. And the way she loves Mordred is heartbreaking cause she’s watching him turn into his father. Guin and Emmet. Boring. That’s all I can give them. Also, isn’t Arthur supposed to rule all of Great Britain under his command? Why make guin queen of her country? Like I get it, since the author was obviously TRYING SO HARD to push for “girls rule! Boys drool!” concept, but come on. Don’t ya think your laying it on a bit too thick?
The only reason I’m giving this 2 stars is cause of the 2 good characters, SOME funny dialogue, and the mythology was pretty good. I mean, Anwyn and their journey there, Vivianne, mordred killing Arthur, Arthur going back to Avalon…a lot of that is looked over in other Arthurian retelling. So kudos to the author for that.
May 9, 2025
3.5
I did not enjoy this book nearly as much as the other two in the series, but it was still a fun and quick read overall.
This book was very focused on female empowerment and proving men's preconceived notions wrong. That sounds great and all, but I had felt like we had moved past that -- Arthur is now king and had always been willing to subvert others' expectations, but now suddenly he is too scared to do so? It felt like we were re-navigating some of the prejudice and misogyny from the first book all over again. I would have appreciated being able to move forward rather than feeling like we had taken major steps back.
Arthur was repeatedly admonished for his inability to support his partner, but really Emry is terrible at supporting him. She clearly has no interest in being a public figure/queen... but Arthur is king. The least she could do is support him behind the scenes or in private, but she can't manage that either. This book really made me feel like they just weren't working out together and needed to find other people. I had previously loved their relationship, but it's clear now that they just aren't compatible in that way.
Emry just really needs to grow up. Lance, Arthur, and Guin were clearly maturing, but she was still acting like a brat at times. And some of the things she says about/in front of her father shocked me, frankly.
As for the B/C-plot relationships: Lance and Percival were just there. They had no storyline really whatsoever. Guin and Emmett had a reasonable conflict introduced right at the beginning that then just wasn't resolved. Guin had a conversation with Emry about it, but she felt it was still an issue for her... and then she never talked to Emmett about it. It was literally just never discussed again. I guess they just both got so distracted with their own stuff that it didn't matter anymore? And now they have a child so they will just move on?
I think this book needed additional revisions and editing, which is sad to see. I wasn't entirely sure the series would be finished, though, so at least there's that.
I did not enjoy this book nearly as much as the other two in the series, but it was still a fun and quick read overall.
This book was very focused on female empowerment and proving men's preconceived notions wrong. That sounds great and all, but I had felt like we had moved past that -- Arthur is now king and had always been willing to subvert others' expectations, but now suddenly he is too scared to do so? It felt like we were re-navigating some of the prejudice and misogyny from the first book all over again. I would have appreciated being able to move forward rather than feeling like we had taken major steps back.
Arthur was repeatedly admonished for his inability to support his partner, but really Emry is terrible at supporting him. She clearly has no interest in being a public figure/queen... but Arthur is king. The least she could do is support him behind the scenes or in private, but she can't manage that either. This book really made me feel like they just weren't working out together and needed to find other people. I had previously loved their relationship, but it's clear now that they just aren't compatible in that way.
Emry just really needs to grow up. Lance, Arthur, and Guin were clearly maturing, but she was still acting like a brat at times. And some of the things she says about/in front of her father shocked me, frankly.
As for the B/C-plot relationships: Lance and Percival were just there. They had no storyline really whatsoever. Guin and Emmett had a reasonable conflict introduced right at the beginning that then just wasn't resolved. Guin had a conversation with Emry about it, but she felt it was still an issue for her... and then she never talked to Emmett about it. It was literally just never discussed again. I guess they just both got so distracted with their own stuff that it didn't matter anymore? And now they have a child so they will just move on?
I think this book needed additional revisions and editing, which is sad to see. I wasn't entirely sure the series would be finished, though, so at least there's that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 2, 2024
I looked forward to the release of this book and it didn't disappoint me. I'm a huge fan of Arthurian legend and have read many iterations. I describe this one as a "teeny-bopper-ized" version of King Arthur, but it's an enjoyable, witty tale that takes the lore and spins it on its head. I recognized the characters and the bits of lore and history introduced, but could never predict how the author would use any of it. It kept me on my toes in the best way.
The introduction of Papa Merlin into the story was as intriguing as it was infuriating, but unlike the typical heroines in YA fiction who would give in and allow herself to fall back into behaviors she had outgrown over the course of the previous novels, we get to watch our Emry "rage against the machine" and make mature choices that ultimately save lives. No character growth is sacrificed to tropes and this series was honestly a joy to read, even when certain parts had me biting my nails wondering if this tense moment in the plot would be the time the author chose to truly follow the legend, because King Arthur's story always ends in tragedy.
I didn't mark this review for spoilers, so I won't give one about the story's ending other than...I actually procrastinated on the final chapters, because my anxiety levels were too high. I was fully invested and do not feel as if any of my mental currency was wasted. I recommend this series if you enjoy Arthurian Legend and are willing to set aside more traditional takes on it, and to just enjoy the characters in a new Arthurian reality that focuses on coming of age in a time of magic and antiquated protocol in need of social revolution told in the voices of young "Merlin", Arthur, Lancelot, Guenevere, and Gawaine.
If the author decides to follow up with a sequel series about the search for the Holy Grail, I'm in. I would willingly join another quest with the New Camelot squad.
The introduction of Papa Merlin into the story was as intriguing as it was infuriating, but unlike the typical heroines in YA fiction who would give in and allow herself to fall back into behaviors she had outgrown over the course of the previous novels, we get to watch our Emry "rage against the machine" and make mature choices that ultimately save lives. No character growth is sacrificed to tropes and this series was honestly a joy to read, even when certain parts had me biting my nails wondering if this tense moment in the plot would be the time the author chose to truly follow the legend, because King Arthur's story always ends in tragedy.
I didn't mark this review for spoilers, so I won't give one about the story's ending other than...I actually procrastinated on the final chapters, because my anxiety levels were too high. I was fully invested and do not feel as if any of my mental currency was wasted. I recommend this series if you enjoy Arthurian Legend and are willing to set aside more traditional takes on it, and to just enjoy the characters in a new Arthurian reality that focuses on coming of age in a time of magic and antiquated protocol in need of social revolution told in the voices of young "Merlin", Arthur, Lancelot, Guenevere, and Gawaine.
If the author decides to follow up with a sequel series about the search for the Holy Grail, I'm in. I would willingly join another quest with the New Camelot squad.
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