Book Review: The Once and Never Queen by C. David Belt — Clean Fantasy with Faith, Adventure, and Hope

A Dark Twist on Arthurian Legend

The Once and Never Queen is a work of fantasy written by C. David Belt about the lives of King Arthur and Guinevere, with a poetically dark twist. Belt adds the extra dimension of faith woven purposely to strengthen ties to reality while transporting the reader into a world of magics, demons, quests… and hope.

If this interests you, even in the slightest, the book will consume your entertainment needs and leave you begging for more. More than entertaining, it became a lifeline for me during a questionable period of reflection. Before getting into that, let’s talk about the book!

About the Author — C. David Belt

C. David Belt is a fantasy and speculative fiction writer born in Evanston, Wyoming, who spent much of his childhood traveling in the Far East. He served as a missionary in South Korea and Southern California, speaks Korean, and holds a BS in Computer Science (with a minor in Aerospace Studies) from BYU. He’s also been a B-52 pilot in the U.S. Air Force and an Air Weapons Controller in the Washington Air National Guard. When not writing, he works as a software engineer, collects medieval weapons, and lives with his wife and six children in Utah.

A Fantasy Novel Without the Smut: Clean Yet Thrilling

I’ve been searching for a book like this for years—and I finally found it. The Once and Never Queen delivers everything I want as a Christian reader: adventure, romance, terror, horror, violence, and mayhem—without the sleaze and smut so many writers assume people want.

I don’t want the sleaze. This book is artfully written by C. David Belt for anyone who craves a thrilling, page-turning story without being beaten over the head with sex scenes or coarse language. That matters to me. And beyond its clean style, the story is deeply fantastic—in the truest sense of the word.

Adventure, Faith, and Real Characters That Resonate

Belt took me on a journey I didn’t know I wanted to take, to a place I thought I already knew. His book is not only immensely entertaining but also well-researched. The best part? He weaves in that research without making it feel like a lecture—more like a gentle correction of misconceptions.

The characters come alive as regular people dealing with complex relationship struggles that evolve over the course of 435 pages. Bedwyr MacNeill, the knight at the center of the story, isn’t just a trope. He’s a returned missionary, a police officer, and a son working through the push-and-pull of his relationship with his father. His depth made me connect to him immediately. Even the side characters play their parts without bogging down the pacing.

And though the stakes are apocalyptic, Belt never tips the story into bleakness. Hope shines in small, human moments that make the larger battle meaningful.

Black and Latter-day Saint Representation in Fantasy Literature

The most powerful part of this faith-fantasy blend is how seamlessly Belt integrates belief into the story. It’s never forced, never preachy—more like an aside that grounds the characters emotionally. These characters happen to be Latter-day Saints, just like me, and I identified with them right away.

But what truly surprised me was the inclusion of a Black character. He wasn’t a token addition, nor was he written in a way that drew unnecessary attention to his race. He was simply there, fully realized, described artfully and respectfully. And the unexpected part? He wasn’t even a Black American. He was a Black British intelligence operative. That detail alone meant the world to me.

As a Latter-day Saint who is an American of Black heritage, I don’t often see myself reflected in fantasy stories—or even, honestly, within the broader culture of the Church of Jesus Christ in America. So when I encountered this character, I felt something close to validation. I wasn’t expecting him, and because I didn’t expect representation, the moment hit me harder. I found myself identifying with him instantly.

Even though we aren’t from the same country or the same ethnic background, he was Black like me. That mattered in a way I didn’t anticipate—almost spiritually. It felt honoring, like the author had reached across both culture and faith traditions to make room for someone like me in this story. And that’s rare in fantasy, and even rarer in literature tied to the faith of the Saints.

Hope Never Fails: The Message of The Once and Never Queen

C. David Belt blends modern concerns, ancient folklore, and faith with the skill of a seasoned swordsman. The message is clear: hope never fails if you refuse to give it up.

That’s why I give this book five stars. It has all the drama and action of a movie on the page—and none of the filth. Yes, it hints that ugliness happens in the background, but never in explicit detail. That restraint is rare in modern fantasy, and it makes this book one I can recommend without hesitation.

A Personal Note: How The Once and Never Queen Inspired Me to Keep Writing

When I first picked up The Once and Never Queen, I honestly didn’t expect to enjoy it. C. David Belt had posted in a Facebook group we shared, asking if anyone would be willing to do a read-through of his new book. Because I was already connected with him online—and because I’m working on finishing my own book—I decided to help out and give some feedback.

The truth is, I don’t usually read this kind of fantasy. I lean more toward science fiction, so my expectations for entertainment were low. I opened the book with the mindset of a helper, not a fan.

But I was wrong. Pleasantly, overwhelmingly wrong. The story grabbed me almost immediately and pulled me in so deeply that I forgot my reluctance. I was going through a hard time personally, weighed down with struggles, but this book cut through all of it. It lifted me out of the funk I was in and even reignited my own desire to keep pushing forward and finish my writing.

That is why this book is more than just an entertaining read for me. It was unexpected, engaging, and healing at the same time.

Final Recommendation

I recommend The Once and Never Queen for mature teens, young adults, and older readers alike. It’s clean, it’s thrilling, and it’s unforgettable.