Guinevere arrives in Camelot with heavy trepidation in her heart: she has been sent to marry King Arthur, a man she has never met. All she knows of him are what the legends say, that he is a great man, that he's the one who pulled the legendary sword from the stone. Unbeknownst to anyone else, Guinevere hasn't actually been sent from a royal family in the South to marry Arthur as the rumors claim, and Guinevere isn't her real name either: she's actually been sent to Camelot by Merlin to protect him.
It is the first in the Camelot Rising trilogy.
The Guinevere Deception provides examples of:
- Amnesiac Hero: Merlin wiped most of Guinevere's memories before she left to Camelot. She is constantly shocked by childhood things like losing baby teeth, and things she would have already gotten like her period. She only has vague memories of learning magic, but can use it fine.
- Arranged Marriage: Justified. Arthur and Guinevere are married only so she can more easily protect him, and they don't consider it a proper marriage emotionally.
- Becoming the Mask: Guinevere lost most of her memories from Merlin before her mission. As she loses more and more of her past, including her name, she begins to forget herself and wonder if she's becoming Guinevere.
- Bodyguard Crush: Guinevere may love Arthur, but her feelings are far from uncomplicated. Among the complications is Lancelot, the Statuesque Stunner Lady Knight who is sworn to her protection, and who becomes her closest friend, confidant, and... some undefined other feelings.
- Both Sides Have a Point: Arthur genuinely wants the best for his people and Camelot. He believes making magic illegal is a necessary sacrifice, as it keeps dangers out (like the Dark Queen... and even Merlin himself is FAR from blameless). Mordred, though he cares for Arthur as a person, is strongly against this. The law unintentionally backs up Camelot's citizens in their prejudice against magic users. When he can, he gives magic users less harsh sentences. This does not end well. It means people cannot be themselves. As a half-fey, he suffers under that rule.
- Camp Straight: The only person Mordred is shown to be interested in is Guinevere, but he is often criticised by other characters for being effeminate.
- Cold Iron: Fey folk cannot touch iron without intense physical pain.
- Dead Person Impersonation: Fake Guinevere impersonates real Guinevere, who is dead, to protect Arthur discreetly.
- Elemental Motifs: Mordred is frequently associated with fire when described by Fake Guinevere.
- Fake Memories: Implied. It may have just been that Merlin lied to her, and with the lost memories Guinevere got confused, filling in the blanks.
- Fantastic Racism: Magic is not allowed in Camelot, so magic users are persecuted or must hide their identities. One girl, after being sentenced to exile (a softer sentence than normal), is chased down by villagers and attacked for using magic.
- Gender Flip: The Patchwork Knight is revealed to be a female version of Lancelot.
- Marriage of Convenience: Arthur and Guinevere are officially married so she can more easily protect him.
- Merger of Souls: It is eventually revealed that Guinevere is the result of Merlin fusing the original Guinevere's soul with the Lady of the Lake so that he could send the Lady of the Lake to protect Arthur, accidentally creating a new personality from the fusion.
- Name Amnesia: Guinevere eventually forgets her own name.
- The One Guy: Guinevere's friendship group consists of herself, Mordred, Brangien, and Dindrane.
- Samus Is a Girl: The Patchwork Knight.
- Showing Up Chauvinists: The Patchwork Knight, a woman, gains knighthood on her own merit before revealing her gender. Women aren't usually allowed knighthood, and some are more than willing to say so.
- Supernatural Repellent: Both iron and some of Guinevere's knot spells repell fey. Her knot spells are used to keep other magic out of the Camelot castle. Other characters reference this to her multiple times. Brangien mentions her knots untying whenever she walked into the castle. Mordred mentions pain walking through the doors, and how using a sword or wearing armour hurts him.
- Sweet Polly Oliver: The Patchwork Knight is actually Lancelot, a female, disguised so she can gain knighthood.
- To Be Lawful or Good: Guinevere, Arthur, and Mordred face the dilemma about the law against magic. Because of the Grey-and-Gray Morality at work, the choice to be lawful is not entirely evil, and standing against it is not entirely good. It depends on the character's personal values and what they are willing to sacrifice for peace.
- You Go, Girl!: Lancelot earned her knighthood as a skilled tournament fighter.
