Little White Duck: A Childhood in China

by Na Liu and Andrés Vera Martínez
Little White Duck: A Childhood in China cover
Good Books rating 2.62
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  • ID: 6154
  • Added: 2025-11-03
  • Updated: 2025-11-03
  • Reviews: 4
Reviews
karenaboutkids.wordpress.com · Unknown · 2017-10-03
disappointing 2.00

The reviewer found the final book of Kiersten White's Camelot Rising trilogy disappointing. They felt the narrative was disjointed and the plot points were crammed in without proper development, leading to a unsatisfactory conclusion.

The reviewer had enjoyed the first two books of the Camelot Rising trilogy, which offered an intriguing premise and engaging characters. However, they found the final book, The Excalibur Curse, to be a letdown. The narrative felt scattered, with too many plot points vying for attention. The reviewer was left frustrated by the constant shifts in direction and the lack of depth in the resolution of key storylines. They felt that either the plot points needed to be reduced and handled with more care, or the conclusion should have been spread across two books. Despite the entertaining elements of the series, the final book's execution fell short, leaving the reviewer with a sense of dissatisfaction.

Quick quotes

    The narrative changed direction constantly, as if White had too many plot points to cram into the ending.

    It felt like a slog to wrap this one up, which was kind of a bummer.

    Instead, we’ve got this, and a not quite satisfactory wrap to an otherwise entertaining and lively series, though you can absolutely see the glimpses of the stronger novel that could’ve been there.

bookaunt.blogspot.com · Unknown · 2013-02-11
disappointed 1.50

The reviewer was disappointed by the ending of 'The Excalibur Curse,' finding the romantic developments abrupt and unsatisfying. They felt the character of Guinevere made impulsive decisions throughout the book, which was frustrating. The reviewer also criticized the underutilization of the character Lancelot and the abrupt shift in Guinevere's romantic feelings.

The reviewer was deeply disappointed by the ending of 'The Excalibur Curse,' the final book in the 'Camelot Rising' trilogy. They found the romantic developments to be abrupt and unsatisfying, particularly the sudden shift in Guinevere's feelings from Mordred to Lancelot. The reviewer felt that the character of Lancelot was underutilized throughout the series and that the love triangle with Arthur, Mordred, and Lancelot was poorly executed. They also criticized Guinevere's impulsive and emotional decision-making, which they found frustrating and immature for a character in a position of power. The reviewer wished for a more satisfying conclusion that better utilized the potential of the characters and their relationships.

Quick quotes

    Mordred had been told all his life who he was — the eel, Arthur’s nephew, the fairyson, the Dark Queen’s savior. And still he carved his own path, chose where to walk and followed no one. She had shied away from his pain because it was a mirror to her own. But he lived in it, did not run from it. He made mistakes and then kept going. And he always, always saw her.

    I will save you in spite of yourself,’ he whispered into her ear. ‘I will save you even if I am saving you for someone else.

    But she had not been able to tell Mordred she loved him. And she had not been able to imagine a future with him, because it meant a future without Lancelot. It broke her heart that Lancelot thought no one ever valued her enough to try to protect her other than the accursed, faithless Lady of the Lake. Guinevere, would not, could not leave her behind.

nytimes.com · Unknown · 2012-11-09
enjoyable 4.00

The Excalibur Curse was an enjoyable conclusion to the Camelot Rising series, with Guinevere's growth and relationships being a highlight. However, the ending felt flat and left the reviewer wanting more, particularly with the execution of the plot and the fate of certain characters.

The Excalibur Curse provided a fun and engaging conclusion to the Camelot Rising series, with Guinevere's development and her relationships with characters like Mordred and Arthur being particularly noteworthy. The introduction of new characters and the exploration of different factions added depth to the story. However, the execution of the final plot, especially Guinevere's betrayal of Arthur and the subsequent events, felt odd and lacked coherence. The ending, while satisfying in some aspects, fell flat for the reviewer, who wanted more from the conclusion. The decision for Guinevere to choose both Lancelot and Arthur was acceptable but not entirely fulfilling. Despite these criticisms, the series as a whole was enjoyable, and the reviewer appreciated the journey.

Quick quotes

    It was a fun time reading about Guinevere’s growth and how she could love a lot of people, like Branigen, Isolde, Lily/Guinevach, Mordred, and Arthur.

    The ending, while satisfying in some aspects, fell flat for me, and I wanted more from the book, and Kiersten White making Guinevere choose both Lancelot and Arthur was okay, I guess.

    I really enjoyed this book series and I don’t know if I’ll read it again, but it was really fun reading it.

goodreads.com · Unknown · 2012-10-01
disappointing 3.00

The reviewer found the series finale of THE EXCALIBUR CURSE to be underwhelming compared to the previous books. They praised the character Fina for her energy and fun addition to the story, but felt the plot was slow to start and lacked a satisfying resolution. The book's use of dream magic and the Ladies of the Lake was confusing, and Arthur's character felt inconsistent.

THE EXCALIBUR CURSE, the final book in the Camelot Rising series, did not quite live up to the expectations set by its predecessors. The reviewer highlighted Fina as a standout character, appreciating her energetic and unconventional personality. However, the book took a while to get into, with a slow start and a lot of setup. The use of dream magic to show other characters' actions was confusing, and the identity of the Ladies of the Lake was particularly perplexing. Arthur's character felt inconsistent, and the ending lacked a satisfying resolution, leaving the reviewer feeling uncertain about the narrative's conclusion.

Quick quotes

    New character Fina was the stand out part of the book. She has energy and does not care for conventions.

    It felt like not much was happening at the start, pieces getting into place.

    The book’s ending felt a little uncertain. Guinevere makes a few choices but they don’t feel like a resolution.

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