The Once and Future Queen: Arthurian legend meets time travel in this sweeping romantic fantasy

— —

Paula Lafferty

The Once and Future Queen

Arthurian legend meets time travel in this sweeping romantic fantasy

Paula Lafferty

$34.99

Paperback

Forthcoming
Pre-Order now

QTY:

English

Hodder & Stoughton
16 December 2025

Historical adventure; Myth & legend told as fiction; Romance; Fantasy; Romance

Series: The Lives of Guinevere

Sometimes legends don't tell the whole story.

After the sudden death of her boyfriend, Vera is content to fade into the background, washing sheets and cleaning bathrooms in a Glastonbury hotel. But when a mysterious guest reveals himself as Merlin and whisks her back to seventh-century Camelot, everything changes. He insists she's not just Vera, she's Guinevere, and only she can undo the curse draining the kingdom's magic and save Camelot from the will of a power-hungry mage.

There's just one problem: Vera remembers nothing of her past life. And with Camelot teetering on the edge of collapse, time is running out.

As Merlin works to restore her memories, Vera uncovers a tangled history of betrayal, power, and heartbreak. Why does King Arthur recoil at her presence? What truly happened the night the curse was cast? And why does every answer feel like it's tearing her in two?

In a kingdom built on legend, Vera must decide who she is, before the past destroys the future.

By: Paula Lafferty
Imprint: Hodder & Stoughton
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 232mm, Width: 152mm, Spine: 44mm
Weight: 619g
ISBN: 9781399746021
ISBN 10: 1399746022
Series: The Lives of Guinevere
Pages: 544
Publication Date: 16 December 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Paula Lafferty lives in the Kansas City area with her husband, daughter, and Otto (the sweetest dog there ever was). She received a BFA in Film Production from Chapman University and a Master of Divinity from Saint Paul School of Theology. She has a taste for finding magic in ""the ordinary"" and a spark for discovering stories at every turn. Telling stories is the thread that runs through Paula's life, and La Vie de Guinevere is her debut novel which she originally funded through a hugely successful Kickstarter campaign.

Reviews for The Once and Future Queen: Arthurian legend meets time travel in this sweeping romantic fantasy

Lafferty successfully weaves together multiple genres in this story of King Arthur's time as seen through the eyes of a modern-day Guinevere. Like Vera, the reader does not have to be an expert on Arthurian legend to follow the story. The fresh takes on legendary characters and propulsive plot twists make this a page-turner that will leave readers hoping for a sequel. An original and fascinating take on the romance of Arthur and Guinevere * Kirkus (Starred Review) *