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For the King: A Novel
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Expected 1 Dec 26Win a free print copy of this book!
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35 copies available
U.S. only
A comprehensive retelling of King Arthur’s legend that breathes new life into the classic tale, from cohost of the Myths and Legends podcast, Carissa Weiser.
Logris is a land torn asunder, plagued by invasions, assassinations, and anarchy. Rulers rise and fall, and so the tide turns. The land lies in wait for one strong enough to truly bear the crown, one who will pull a sword from a rock.
But there is another being, rumored to be half-demon and half-man, who braids together these threads of destiny. He goes by the name of Merlin, and he shapes kingdoms like clay, only to destroy them between his fingers. And so fate proceeds…
Morgan is a princess unlike her sisters. Intent on learning the mystic arts, she flees her comfortable yet predictable life to find Merlin’s fabled cave, a place of knowledge where she longs to become an apprentice. She is not the only one with such a dream, and what she discovers inside the workroom is beyond anything she could have imagined.
And then there is Arthur, the boy king remembered throughout time. Perhaps he can prove his worth and bury his past before those closest to him understand the extent of his rise to power, as he rules with a sword in his hand and Merlin in his ear.
Meanwhile, the currents of Avalon, and of the Ladies of the Lake, swirl beneath them all.
A story of loyalties tested and lives lost, of characters both familiar and fresh, For the King knits the scramble of Arthurian legend into a kaleidoscopic journey through time, perspective, and the trappings of one’s own destiny. The adventure awaits—if you so choose.
Logris is a land torn asunder, plagued by invasions, assassinations, and anarchy. Rulers rise and fall, and so the tide turns. The land lies in wait for one strong enough to truly bear the crown, one who will pull a sword from a rock.
But there is another being, rumored to be half-demon and half-man, who braids together these threads of destiny. He goes by the name of Merlin, and he shapes kingdoms like clay, only to destroy them between his fingers. And so fate proceeds…
Morgan is a princess unlike her sisters. Intent on learning the mystic arts, she flees her comfortable yet predictable life to find Merlin’s fabled cave, a place of knowledge where she longs to become an apprentice. She is not the only one with such a dream, and what she discovers inside the workroom is beyond anything she could have imagined.
And then there is Arthur, the boy king remembered throughout time. Perhaps he can prove his worth and bury his past before those closest to him understand the extent of his rise to power, as he rules with a sword in his hand and Merlin in his ear.
Meanwhile, the currents of Avalon, and of the Ladies of the Lake, swirl beneath them all.
A story of loyalties tested and lives lost, of characters both familiar and fresh, For the King knits the scramble of Arthurian legend into a kaleidoscopic journey through time, perspective, and the trappings of one’s own destiny. The adventure awaits—if you so choose.
352 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication December 1, 2026
5 people are currently reading
3928 people want to read
About the author
Carissa Weiser
1 book27 followersA former assistant professor, Carissa Weiser is now the award-winning co-creator of the international hit, Myths and Legends®, and its sister show, Fictional. Her debut novel, FOR THE KING, hits shelves on December 1st.
Find her also @carissa.weiser on Instagram.
Find her also @carissa.weiser on Instagram.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
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April 30, 2026A retelling of King Arthurs legend through a kaleidoscopic journey through time.
Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Many thanks to NetGalley, William Morrow and the author, Carissa Weiser for an early ARC.
Publication date: December 1, 2026
Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Many thanks to NetGalley, William Morrow and the author, Carissa Weiser for an early ARC.
Publication date: December 1, 2026
May 7, 2026
The beginning felt kind of chaotic, with too many characters and storylines all at once, so I never really got hooked. The writing was good and detailed, but there was just too much going on, and the timeline jumps confused me at times.
I also think there were too many side characters, which took focus away from the main story. I don’t know much about Arthurian legend, so some parts didn’t really make sense to me. Overall, I was hoping for more action, drama, and romance… the story just didn’t grab me the way I wanted it to.
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the opportunity.
I also think there were too many side characters, which took focus away from the main story. I don’t know much about Arthurian legend, so some parts didn’t really make sense to me. Overall, I was hoping for more action, drama, and romance… the story just didn’t grab me the way I wanted it to.
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the opportunity.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you, NetGalley, William Morrow, and Carissa Weiser for providing an ARC of For the King in exchange for an honest review.
I should preface this review by saying that I have a Master's degree in Medieval Studies and have studied Arthurian legends extensively. I love these stories, and For the King surpassed my expectations. It was a love letter to the legends, respectful of the source materials, and accessible to those who might not know much about Arthur.
You do have to embrace the weird when it comes to Arthurian legends, and For the King does just that. If you're not familiar with the different legends, you might not get it. Most modern retellings tend to focus on the romance between Arthur and Guinevere (and Lancelot) as well as the honorable knights of the Round Table. The courtly love stories are not the focus of For the King. And it’s fantastic.
We start with the early kings of Logris (Arthur’s England), each influenced by Merlin, and each failing spectacularly. We get the sword in the stone (Excalibur comes later) and the boy-king Arthur, who initially follows Merlin to the letter. Arthur’s exploits eventually lead to a “fruitful” one-night stand with Morgause (if you know, you know). Many bad decisions later, attempted regicide, and new alliances formed, Arthur finally gets his round table, but not all his knights are loyal. Guinevere has a small role in this, which makes sense because she’s outside of Merlin and Morgan’s scheming. The primary focus of the story is on how Merlin and Morgan manipulate Arthur’s kingdom. We do get the confrontation between Merlin and Nimue, and then it ends. To be continued, I expect, since the story is not finished.
For the King shows us how not-so-noble King Arthur is, but also how those around him manipulated him. This book balances the nuances of politics, love, and betrayal in medieval England. It's not pretty. And this is no courtly romance. And that is fine with me!
Read it and immerse yourself in an accessibility wild, weird world of King Arthur.
I should preface this review by saying that I have a Master's degree in Medieval Studies and have studied Arthurian legends extensively. I love these stories, and For the King surpassed my expectations. It was a love letter to the legends, respectful of the source materials, and accessible to those who might not know much about Arthur.
You do have to embrace the weird when it comes to Arthurian legends, and For the King does just that. If you're not familiar with the different legends, you might not get it. Most modern retellings tend to focus on the romance between Arthur and Guinevere (and Lancelot) as well as the honorable knights of the Round Table. The courtly love stories are not the focus of For the King. And it’s fantastic.
We start with the early kings of Logris (Arthur’s England), each influenced by Merlin, and each failing spectacularly. We get the sword in the stone (Excalibur comes later) and the boy-king Arthur, who initially follows Merlin to the letter. Arthur’s exploits eventually lead to a “fruitful” one-night stand with Morgause (if you know, you know). Many bad decisions later, attempted regicide, and new alliances formed, Arthur finally gets his round table, but not all his knights are loyal. Guinevere has a small role in this, which makes sense because she’s outside of Merlin and Morgan’s scheming. The primary focus of the story is on how Merlin and Morgan manipulate Arthur’s kingdom. We do get the confrontation between Merlin and Nimue, and then it ends. To be continued, I expect, since the story is not finished.
For the King shows us how not-so-noble King Arthur is, but also how those around him manipulated him. This book balances the nuances of politics, love, and betrayal in medieval England. It's not pretty. And this is no courtly romance. And that is fine with me!
Read it and immerse yourself in an accessibility wild, weird world of King Arthur.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
For The King feels less like a straightforward retelling and more like a compilation inspired by Le Morte d'Arthur, The Once and Future King, The Mists of Avalon, and Idylls of the King, blending multiple elements into a sweeping interpretation of the Arthurian legend. Familiar figures such as Merlin, Uther Pendragon, Margause, Morgan, and Sir Kay all appear, while the addition of original characters lends greater emotional depth and completeness to both the triumphs and heartbreaks that define Arthur’s rise and fall.
I adore all things connected to King Arthur and absolutely devoured this book. What especially stood out to me was the way the women were given fuller, more nuanced roles. Their motivations, struggles, and influence on the story felt far more developed than in many traditional tellings, which added an extra layer of richness to the reading experience for me.
I also appreciated the way the author stayed true to the tone and writing style of the classic Arthurian tales. Reading For The King felt like another opportunity to immerse myself in a world I’ve loved for years.
I give it 4 stars.
I adore all things connected to King Arthur and absolutely devoured this book. What especially stood out to me was the way the women were given fuller, more nuanced roles. Their motivations, struggles, and influence on the story felt far more developed than in many traditional tellings, which added an extra layer of richness to the reading experience for me.
I also appreciated the way the author stayed true to the tone and writing style of the classic Arthurian tales. Reading For The King felt like another opportunity to immerse myself in a world I’ve loved for years.
I give it 4 stars.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received an ARC of For The King by Carissa Weiser from Harper Collins.
This first installment in a retelling of the collected Arthurian legends is richly imagined and beautifully written, especially for readers who, like me, know more of Camelot from childhood adaptations than from the original mythology itself. I loved how much depth and agency the women were given here—the female characters felt dynamic, intelligent, and emotionally layered in ways that made the story feel fresh.
The novel also sparked a genuine interest in Arthurian legend for me, and I appreciated how immersive and carefully crafted the world felt. You can tell there’s a deep reverence for the source material woven throughout the book.
I would absolutely recommend it to readers who love Arthurian retellings, sweeping fantasy rooted in legend, and especially stories that re-center the women history often leaves at the edges.
I received an ARC of For The King by Carissa Weiser from Harper Collins.
This first installment in a retelling of the collected Arthurian legends is richly imagined and beautifully written, especially for readers who, like me, know more of Camelot from childhood adaptations than from the original mythology itself. I loved how much depth and agency the women were given here—the female characters felt dynamic, intelligent, and emotionally layered in ways that made the story feel fresh.
The novel also sparked a genuine interest in Arthurian legend for me, and I appreciated how immersive and carefully crafted the world felt. You can tell there’s a deep reverence for the source material woven throughout the book.
I would absolutely recommend it to readers who love Arthurian retellings, sweeping fantasy rooted in legend, and especially stories that re-center the women history often leaves at the edges.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow for the opportunity to review this novel.
This was an amazing book! I will say, I was a little caught off guard at first because all I really knew going into the book was that it was a retelling of the Arthurian legends. This led me to expect an epic, romantic, swoon-worthy story. That is not the vibe of 'For the King' at all!
This novel took all of my preconceived notions of the Arthurian legends and turned them on their head. 'For the King' is told from multiple compelling POVs that show the alternate darker side of the classic legends. No character is truly 'good' or truly 'evil.' This is a deeply emotional book that had me hooked and searching for answers. Absolutely recommend to anyone who loves morally gray and complex characters. Excellent storytelling!
This was an amazing book! I will say, I was a little caught off guard at first because all I really knew going into the book was that it was a retelling of the Arthurian legends. This led me to expect an epic, romantic, swoon-worthy story. That is not the vibe of 'For the King' at all!
This novel took all of my preconceived notions of the Arthurian legends and turned them on their head. 'For the King' is told from multiple compelling POVs that show the alternate darker side of the classic legends. No character is truly 'good' or truly 'evil.' This is a deeply emotional book that had me hooked and searching for answers. Absolutely recommend to anyone who loves morally gray and complex characters. Excellent storytelling!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was so excited for this, but it didn’t hit the mark for me. I expected an epic tale of adventure, wild quests, and courtly romance, with characters I could love and admire.
Instead, each character was unlikeable and deeply flawed. Which I think was the point…to show the darker side of Arthurian lore. And don’t get me wrong, I am no expert..I didn’t go in this with a vast Arthurian knowledge base.
But it just wasn’t much like what I DID know and expect. So it did not draw me in nor excite me.
It was well written, and I can tell the author poured so much into it, and that I can truly admire. It just wasn’t my cup of tea.
But I greatly appreciate my ARC, so huge thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for sharing it with me!
Instead, each character was unlikeable and deeply flawed. Which I think was the point…to show the darker side of Arthurian lore. And don’t get me wrong, I am no expert..I didn’t go in this with a vast Arthurian knowledge base.
But it just wasn’t much like what I DID know and expect. So it did not draw me in nor excite me.
It was well written, and I can tell the author poured so much into it, and that I can truly admire. It just wasn’t my cup of tea.
But I greatly appreciate my ARC, so huge thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for sharing it with me!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow, and Carissa Weiser for providing an ARC of 'For the King’ for an honest review.
I was sold on this the minute I read it was a retelling of Arthurian legends and was not disappointed! Politics, manipulation, and plotting are heavily present in this retelling, with sprinkles of romance throughout. I was glad this book was not romance heavy and instead explored the darker side of the legends. The plot and character development were well done and I enjoyed the switch of narrators throughout the novel.
I was sold on this the minute I read it was a retelling of Arthurian legends and was not disappointed! Politics, manipulation, and plotting are heavily present in this retelling, with sprinkles of romance throughout. I was glad this book was not romance heavy and instead explored the darker side of the legends. The plot and character development were well done and I enjoyed the switch of narrators throughout the novel.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you for the ARC! I enjoyed this book.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews