Book Review: The Once and Future Queen by Paula Lafferty

Pages: 512

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction/Fantasy

Publisher: Kensington

Pub. Date: December 16, 2025

Source: Personal Copy

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "Vera always knew she didn’t fit in. When she learns that she is meant to be in another time, she leaps at the chance to embrace a new life in a world of valor, intrigue, and unexpected magic in this bold and romantic retelling of Arthurian legend . . .

22-year-old Vera is at a crossroads: waiting tables, grieving her previous relationship, and jogging aimlessly each morning as if toward an uncertain future. Then an odd man shows up at her workplace, insisting that she was once the legendary Queen Guinevere of Camelot, and that her lost memories hold the key to changing both the past and the present. Somehow, it all feels like the direction she’s been looking for. But when she asks the mysterious man to tell her more about Lancelot, Arthur, and a faithless queen, he can only say that much of what she’s heard about Camelot is wrong. The truth, he claims, is something she must see for herself.

After jumping through a portal in Glastonbury’s historic center, Vera is not prepared for what she finds. Magic is everywhere, but a curse on the kingdom means it dwindles every day. She has no idea how to perform a queen’s duties. Her fast friendship with Lancelot sets gossip flowing, and the stranger she must call “husband” often refuses to meet her eye. Arthur is a puzzle: cold, forbidding, and, while angry to her face, keeps leaving secret tokens of tenderness in her chambers. Worst of all, Vera’s memories—and the answers locked within them—show no signs of returning. If Vera is truly destined to save Camelot, she’ll have to trust her instincts. And her king will have to trust her . . ."

 

Vera is a twenty-two-year-old living with her adopted parents in Glastonbury working at her parents' hotel. She is still grieving the untimely death of Vincent, her boyfriend, who died in a car crash. Her daily life has become monotonous until the arrival of a strange man at the hotel who tells her she must come with him to another time. She is actually Guinevere and has been hiding out in modern day, but must return to King Arthur's court to ultimately save England, which desperately needs her. Obviously, this sounds crazy, but Vera's mother confirms that this message is the truth. The mysterious stranger turns out to be Merlin, who, by using magic, can time-travel through a wormhole. Once back to Camelot, she has to acclimate to the time period and the dynamics at court. There are all the legendary characters present: Arthur, Lancelot, Gawain, and more, but Vera must forget what she knows about King Arthur's court and learn for herself what it's like to live there. It doesn't help that Arthur won't open up to her and avoids her, which is beyond frustrating for Vera. Also, she must figure out her place in this new world, how she can help save England, and what happened to her before her "disappearance" to another time. Paula Lafferty's The Once and Future Queen is a mash-up of various genres and a fun modern take on the King Arthur legend.
 
I have always enjoyed the legend of King Arthur, so I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed Lafferty's modern take on it. The first half of the book really pulled me in. To have Guinevere time-travel back to the court, after spending some time in Modern England, is a fun premise. While the science behind Merlin's wormhole and his magic was lacking, if readers suspend their disbelief and just go along with it, they are in for a lot of enjoyment. Also, the slow-burning romance between Arthur and Guinevere was also enjoyable, and Lafferty really took her time developing their relationship and explaining the backstory as to why Arthur has been so closed off lately. Lastly, Lancelot's friendship with Guinevere was also well done, and that was a entertaining take on the usual legend.

My only gripe with The Once and Future Queen was the length. I felt like it dragged on in the middle, which impacted the pacing. The characters also spoke in a modern way, which didn't feel very authentic for the time period. But other than that, I thought it was an enjoyable time-travel/historical fiction novel with a small side of romance. Fans of the Arthurian legend will especially appreciate this one, as well as fans of romantasy that prefer their fantasies to not include too many spicy scenes. 

Let me know in the comments if you enjoy Arthurian legend and time travel stories. The Once and Future Queen is the start of a promising trilogy, so let me know if you plan on reading it this winter.