*This review contains minor spoilers of the early portion of the book*

The Forgotten Queen is a delightful and clever retelling of the legend of King Arthur. It opens at the birth of Avalon in the magic waters of the lake. Her mother, Lady Vivien (the Lady of the Lake) is horrified at the beauty of her newborn and 'dispells' the majority of it, with Avalon's father, Merlin, helplessly looking on. Lady Vivien believes excessive beauty to be a curse that would get in the way of Avalon's destiny. And Lady Vivien will do anything to bring Avalon's destiny about – even murder – in her bid to bind both Avalon and the newly crowned King Arthur to the sword Excaliber.

Eleven years later, and against Lady Vivien's advice, Arthur negotiates with Leodegrance, King of Carmelide, for the hand of his daughter, Guinevere. Guinevere is less than keen, but she has no choice, despite being in love with Arthur's best friend, Lancelot. When she makes her feelings forcefully clear, Arthur realises the situation is impossible and reneges on the arrangement, unknowing that the future of Camelot is at stake.

Later, Guinevere realises that her father will insist she marries a king – Lancelot is of no consequence politically. If Guinevere cannot persuade Arthur to renew his proposal, she will be forced to marry the cruel tyrant, Malegeant.

Camelot has more powerful enemies than Malegeant, however. Arthur's adopted sister, Morgana, and her son Mordred want revenge on Camelot. When Morgana became pregnant, Uther, her guardian and supposed protector, banished her. Now they want Camelot's throne. But Lady Vivien will go to any lengths to ensure her visions of Avalon and Arthur's futures come to pass.

A thoroughly enjoyable read revisiting the legend of King Arthur, but with a clever twist or two along the way, The Forgotten Queen has it all: romance, forbidden love, adventure, treachery, intrigue, magic, war and redemption, and is a perfect piece of escapism