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Queen of Camelot #2
High Queen
The Childless Queen
The prophecy spoken at Queen Guinevere's birth had been fulfilled. Guinevere reigned strong and true, at the side of her beloved King Arthur. Together, they had forged a legendary kingdom, and its fame would live forever. Yet there had been a dark side to the prophecy, and the white shadow of fate ever hung over the Queen.
Now Guinevere thought she knew what that shadow was: she was barren. She accepted that -- just as she accepted that Arthur must have an heir And the only true heir of his body was Mordred -- offspring of a cursed encounter with Arthur's own sister, the witch Morgause.
Guinevere couldn't give Arthur her own child, so she would give him his own son: Mordred. She would raise the boy, teach him to be a king. He would be like Arthur -- wise, coolheaded. He would honor Camelot and all it stood for. She would love him like a mother.
He was to be her greatest joy, and her greatest despair...
The prophecy spoken at Queen Guinevere's birth had been fulfilled. Guinevere reigned strong and true, at the side of her beloved King Arthur. Together, they had forged a legendary kingdom, and its fame would live forever. Yet there had been a dark side to the prophecy, and the white shadow of fate ever hung over the Queen.
Now Guinevere thought she knew what that shadow was: she was barren. She accepted that -- just as she accepted that Arthur must have an heir And the only true heir of his body was Mordred -- offspring of a cursed encounter with Arthur's own sister, the witch Morgause.
Guinevere couldn't give Arthur her own child, so she would give him his own son: Mordred. She would raise the boy, teach him to be a king. He would be like Arthur -- wise, coolheaded. He would honor Camelot and all it stood for. She would love him like a mother.
He was to be her greatest joy, and her greatest despair...
439 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 30, 1995
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301 people want to read
About the author
Nancy McKenzie
20 books85 followersNancy McKenzie is the author of several novels based on Arthurian tales. Guinevere’s Gift is her first novel for young adults. She lives in Danbury, Connecticut.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
July 13, 2017
Nancy McKenzie makes for relaxed reading while bringing alive the true magic, colour and drama of Arthurian legend, and exploring the hearts and passions of Arthur's beautiful and captivating Queen Guinevere who captures the hearts of so many men at Camelot.
In the second of two magnificent novels, Guinvere, unable to conceive agrees to raise Arthur's son Mordred born from a cursed encounter with Arthur's sister the evil sorceress Morgause.
As she raises Mordred to love him like son, he will eventually be the seed of her destruction. Meanwhile she struggles with her agonizing love for Lancelot as McKenzie creates high drama and narrative from this ill fated love.
And of course the shadow of the great and terrifying Merlin always hovers over all.
The total effect creates a compelling and spellbinding epic which serves as an imposing example of the author's enthusiasm for her subject.
In the second of two magnificent novels, Guinvere, unable to conceive agrees to raise Arthur's son Mordred born from a cursed encounter with Arthur's sister the evil sorceress Morgause.
As she raises Mordred to love him like son, he will eventually be the seed of her destruction. Meanwhile she struggles with her agonizing love for Lancelot as McKenzie creates high drama and narrative from this ill fated love.
And of course the shadow of the great and terrifying Merlin always hovers over all.
The total effect creates a compelling and spellbinding epic which serves as an imposing example of the author's enthusiasm for her subject.
April 2, 2023
5/6
Honestly, the ending made me cry. I know that even if these people were real, they are long dead, but still, Arthur's death was heartbreaking. And my heart broke with Gwen that she wasn't there when he died. I'm also sorry that everything that Arthur had built up over 20-30 years would practically be destroyed after he and all his Companions died, with Britain being divided once more.
It was interesting to me that Gwen was always left at Camelot when Arthur traveled around, when in the future, Queens would go on progress around the country with their King. It made me wish that Arthur would take Gwen with him more often, even though when he did take her with him to Wales, she was kidnapped.
I'm glad we got to see Gwen 'lead' Camelot a little bit, even if most of her time was spent with Alise and not ruling very much. Was very annoying though that the veteran Companions would clearly take her orders as if Arthur gave them, but the younger ones were so full of contempt. It seemed to me that though they loved Arthur, they couldn't wait for him to die so that they could fight.
Also, I know from browsing her wiki that Gwen died in that abbey and was indeed buried with Arthur as he wished it, but I wished we had seen some sort of extra epilogue that had the two of them reuniting in the afterworld, heaven, or the space between the stars where Merlin went to. I probably would have cried more than I already had lmao.
Honestly, the ending made me cry. I know that even if these people were real, they are long dead, but still, Arthur's death was heartbreaking. And my heart broke with Gwen that she wasn't there when he died. I'm also sorry that everything that Arthur had built up over 20-30 years would practically be destroyed after he and all his Companions died, with Britain being divided once more.
It was interesting to me that Gwen was always left at Camelot when Arthur traveled around, when in the future, Queens would go on progress around the country with their King. It made me wish that Arthur would take Gwen with him more often, even though when he did take her with him to Wales, she was kidnapped.
I'm glad we got to see Gwen 'lead' Camelot a little bit, even if most of her time was spent with Alise and not ruling very much. Was very annoying though that the veteran Companions would clearly take her orders as if Arthur gave them, but the younger ones were so full of contempt. It seemed to me that though they loved Arthur, they couldn't wait for him to die so that they could fight.
Also, I know from browsing her wiki that Gwen died in that abbey and was indeed buried with Arthur as he wished it, but I wished we had seen some sort of extra epilogue that had the two of them reuniting in the afterworld, heaven, or the space between the stars where Merlin went to. I probably would have cried more than I already had lmao.
October 13, 2025
Polyamory would solve a lot of these tragic love triangles, just sayin.' Guinevere is still gorgeous, beautiful, wise, kind... but also, childless. Still drawn to Lancelot, she remains faithful to Arthur, rumors to the contrary, and he depends on her emotionally.
She brings his incestuous son, Mordred, to court and to get to know his father. She becomes deeply attached to the young man, seeing his father in him at every turn. It's more than a little convoluted to get to the scene on the beach where both men die/are mortally wounded, according to the legends. Again, as I found upon rereading the first of this duo, Guinevere is a bit too good. Wise, kind, generous... I wanted to see her learn, grow, and change, and either it wasn't there, or I missed it. Still good writing, just a heroine who annoyed me.
She brings his incestuous son, Mordred, to court and to get to know his father. She becomes deeply attached to the young man, seeing his father in him at every turn. It's more than a little convoluted to get to the scene on the beach where both men die/are mortally wounded, according to the legends. Again, as I found upon rereading the first of this duo, Guinevere is a bit too good. Wise, kind, generous... I wanted to see her learn, grow, and change, and either it wasn't there, or I missed it. Still good writing, just a heroine who annoyed me.
September 21, 2025
J'ai moins aimé ce tome que le précédent mais j'ai quand même passé une excellent moment. Il se passe tellement de choses, on a pas le temps de s'ennuyer une minute. Il y a tous les ingrédients qui marchent : des complots, de la trahison... Et j'ai beaucoup aimé comment l'histoire se finit même si on aimerait qu'elle se finisse mieux que ça.
July 1, 2023
Even knowing the end of the Arthur and Guinivere legend, I was sad at the death of the High King. I wish that the author could have gone just a bit farther in Guinivere' story, because I wasn't quite ready for the tale to end.
February 15, 2017
Sequel to the Child Queen.
January 23, 2013
This has to be one of my favorite Arthurian books. Some might say it is a sugar coated version of the legend. I liked it mostly because Gwen and Lancelot don't actually have relations behind Arthur's back. Well, they do to a degree but it isn't as drastic and Arthur sort of knows about it anyways and doesn't think much of it. And there was a lot of Guinevere and Arthur, which I enjoyed. It was very tough to read the ending though because it was so depressing. McKenzie does a good job of taking you through the stages of grief though. I would definetly re read it. Though I think I liked the child queen better, as it was a bit happier. Also liked that Mordred didn't become (or come off as) a villain until the very ending.
November 28, 2014
After doing a wonderful job of drawing a connection between the reader and the characters in the first book (The Child Queen), as well as strong connections between the characters, Nancy McKenzie goes on to once again draw the reader in to the world of Camelot as it hurtles towards its demise. The reader feels a gamut of emotions as each page is turned and character after character makes the right choice--which the reader knows is actually drawing them nearer to the destruction of Camelot. These pair of books tell one of my favorite stories in a way that makes it all feel real and still maintains the feeling that the reader is in the presence of great people.
June 29, 2013
This book isn't as much of a favorite as The Child Queen is, I think because it has the whole death of Arthur to it, but also because Morgause and Morgan are handled in somewhat stereotypical fashion - conniving, manipulating witches. Still enjoyed the visit back to Camelot, but I think I need to come forward in history for a while.
April 30, 2008
This is the sequel to The Child Queen. It's a sad story because you know what is coming and a sense of dread looms over the whole book. I always cry at the end, yet I read it over and over! That truly is the sign of a good book, though, isn't it?
March 15, 2007
The sequel to the Child Queen
June 15, 2007
Decent book, but really only as a follow-on to The Child Queen, which is better, IMO.
November 28, 2008
I had to search for a long time before I found the sequel to the Child Queen. My mom surprised me with it for my birthday.
Read
October 6, 2015This book provides a unique way of looking at the King Arthur stories from the eyes of his wife, Gwen, and the story behind her own life.
August 1, 2012
My full review is here: http://wp.me/p2b9fU-wi
July 23, 2013
Even more compelling than the first! And epically tragic
Read
October 2, 2016Very good follow up to the first book.
June 30, 2008
Although not as good as the first book...child queen...I still liked this one.
December 29, 2016
I just love this book and the Child Queen.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews