At her birth, an old wise woman prophesied that Guinevere would someday be the highest woman in the land, wed to a mighty king. Guinevere doesn't believe it -- as the orphaned ward of King Pellinore and Queen Alyse of Gwynedd, Guinevere has no dowry, no prospects, and no interest in becoming a great lady. She'd rather be off riding her horse. But many others do believe in the prophecy, including the part that nobody has ever told Guinevere: that she will betray the great king, as well. Guinevere must come to terms with her destiny and decide how much the prophecy will shape her future. When she uncovers a dangerous plot that only she can foil, she may be taking her first steps toward her unknown future.

I thought this was an interesting approach to Arthurian legend, looking at the young Guinevere before she met Arthur. I found it a decent story -- not fantastic, but worth the time it took to read it. I didn't realize that it was the start of a series, going into it, so I found the ending a little off-putting. It's not a cliffhanger, but it's obvious that there's more to the story. I'd recommend this only to readers who can't get enough of Arthurian retellings. ( )

Reviewed by Joan Stradling for TeensReadToo.com

At the time of her birth, a prophecy foretold Guinevere would one day be wed to a great king and be the highest lady in the land. Guinevere herself refuses to believe this will be so.

After all, she's thirteen years old and an orphan living at the mercy of her uncle and aunt, the king and queen of Gwynedd. She prefers riding horses to more feminine tasks, and it would be unlikely a great king would look twice at her boyish figure.

When Gwen discovers an ancient tribe, she learns they not only accept the prophecy as truth, but they have been guarding her all her life. Guinevere is no longer sure what to believe. In the midst of inner turmoil, she uncovers a sinister plot against her uncle and aunt that threatens not only their lives, but the lives of the ancient tribe, as well. It's up to Guinevere to unravel the plot and save the lives of those she loves.

Though the characters presented in these books are well known and loved by many, McKenzie is able to give them new life and has made them her own while still remaining true to the legend. The reader is introduced to Guinevere as a young girl before she even meets Arthur, and this is a wonderful side to see of the future queen.

This is the first book in THE CHRYSALIS QUEEN QUARTET, and Ms. McKenzie does a fantastic job of introducing this new side to the legend of King Arthur. GUINEVERE'S GIFT is a great beginning to what is sure to become a series of books loved by fans of Arthurian legend.

Though I know how the story ends, I loved the beginning of the journey as seen through the eyes of the girl who will be queen. I look forward to seeing how Guinevere and the other characters grow toward their destinies in GUINEVERE'S GAMBLE, the second book in the series. ( )