I'd give this a 4.5!

This was a really lush reimagining of Arthurian legend (not that I'm overly familiar with it) and I had a lot of fun reading this book. Our POV character, Anna, is a breath of fresh air after reading some books lately with fairly 2D protagonists. Anna is a mature voice with sense and wit, who has been through a lot since her marriage as a young girl that has made her a uniquely compelling character. I could have stayed in her head forever. She's the sister of King Arthur Pendragon, returned to his side after the death of her husband. I really enjoyed seeing her figuring out her own latent magic after years of being on the sidelines and not in control of her own fate, whilst navigating court and family life.

I will say I was going to give this book a 5, but the ending seemed slightly rushed to me and a little confusing. Anna's magical transformation was a biiiiig arc but we don't see most of it until the last third or so of the book, which goes by too fast. A certain character is also introduced who plays really interestingly off of Anna. I'd have liked to have seen this character introduced earlier so we could see their relationship evolve at a more realistic pace.

That being said, it's not often I feel totally transported by the world of a book, but this one managed to do just that. Descriptions were vivid and prosaic but not over the top, and several interesting characters, in particular the infamous Morgen, are introduced and I am really hoping we get to see more of them (or even their POV?!) in future instalments.

Thank you, NetGalley and Natania Barron for this eARC. All opinions that are stated are my own.

I will probably be one of the few readers coming into this book knowing <i> nothing </i> about Arthur Pendragon I just thought this would be a good read. It really was, I enjoyed this book a lot, especially the first two-thirds. I enjoyed learning about Aruther in passing, he wasn't the main focus, but instead, a side focus as he is the main character's twin sibling. I think this book really captures the brutality of court, and how women in court are represented, as mainly a pawn to be sold off to secure land or titles. It's disheartening to watch all of Arthur's siblings get the same fate, to be married off very young to ensure good relations with other lands. Women are very often overlooked, seen as jewels to be shown off, and then cast aside when they become older.

The latter third of the book was not my favorite. The idea of Nimue and taking down of Merlin with all this, magic that really wasn't introduced in the book felt out of place. Maybe I missed the introduction of it all, but it really came out of left field to me. Like what do you mean the sister of Arthur can pull shadows??? How was she the only one who didn't really know about the family's magic except in passing? Anna really went from subtle pulling of shadows to magically changing her body into an entirely different person.
While the book was never lighthearted, the tone significantly changed when magic was introduced, becoming much darker with the magic taking a painful sacrifice and basically dissolving Anna into a shell of herself. I don't really feel like it fit, or there should or been a more gradual introduction.

The book was a bit choppy, highlighting certain moments and skipping huge passages of time. I'm not a huge fan when authors do this, especially throughout the whole book because it feels like we never see the full picture.

But overall, I enjoyed this book and the author's writing.

I went into this with zero expectations and ended up loving it. I literally devoured this book it was so good. Not a typical story by any means so unique with an amazing cast of characters, beautiful writing and an engaging plot.

Queen of None is a retelling of the legend of King Arthur through the eyes of his forgotten sister, Anna Pendragon. As a long-time fan of Arthurian stories I really enjoyed the concept and the different take on the stories we already know. However I did find the timeline and pacing of the book a little difficult to follow and while the concept and story were interesting I didn't love this book as much as I was hoping to. But if you enjoy fantasy/ folklore stories this might be something you'll enjoy!

This was such a delightful twist on the classic Arthurian legends we all know. Told from the point-of-view of Arthur’s younger sister Anna, we see the struggles of the women court while the men focus on starting wars, competing in tournaments, and obtaining the objects of their lust.

I cried so much for Anna throughout as it seemed every single chance at happiness was ripped away by the men surrounding her. You definitely feel a sense of female empowerment camaraderie as Anna begins to take control of her own destiny and no longer allowing men to make her choices.

I really enjoyed the villainizing of Merlin. He felt so much more like Arthur’s Rasputin, and it gave me such a sense of satisfaction when Anna rose up against him.

This was definitely an intriguing telling, and almost a cautionary tale about allowing others to write our destinies.

This is not a romance and shouldn't be marketed as one. It was more (mythological) historical fiction and gave me similar vibes to Phillipa Gregory's The White Princess.


That being said, I did enjoy the novel. I'd never heard of Anna Pendragon so it was an interesting take on Arthurian legend. I appreciated the author's educational foreword.

I was uncomfortable at times with the references to incest towards the end of the book, which were completely unexpected.

Anna Pendragon is Arthur’s youngest and only full blooded sister. After surviving her late husband Lot of Orkney and delivering his kingdom to Arthur, she hopes only to be reunited with her former lover Bedevere and her sons, but quickly learns Merlin is not through with scheming and using the women of court as his pawns.

I thought this was a really interesting look at the “side characters” of Arthurian legend. I’d never heard of Anna before (which I assume is the point) and thought she was a really compelling character. I mostly just feel so bad that she had to go through all that she did and nobody ever really cared about her.

This book is so much fun to read. I have always enjoyed Arthurian legend retelling and this book was no exception. The story was captivating and the world was beautifully made.

This book should have been 5 stars for me, Arthurian legend (yes please) a slow burn
(love it) and lgbt+ representation (absolutely). Although none of it worked, the pacing was incredibly slow and some of the legend itself was off. I felt there was a lot of contradictions in the writing that I just couldn’t look past, I wanted to love this book, but it fell flat for me.

Thank you to Netgalley & Rebellion for the E-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

First, I’d like to give a massive thank you to Rebellion Publishing and Solaris Books for this ARC!

This was a beautiful story, with stunning characters, complex relationships and a sorrowful tale womanhood.

It took me a while to get to grips with the language and pick through the information, and it took me about 35% to actually get into this, but after that, I really enjoyed it.

Anna is such a beautifully written character and I truly felt awful for her and overall, this story is necessary. It gave such a refreshing take and new insights into Arthurian legend. Her complex relationship with her family, her sons, and Bedevere was what I loved the most, but I really wish we saw more of Bedevere in the second half.

Overall, this was a wonderful read of love, magic, and heartbreak through rich and stunning writing!

4.25⭐️

(Review will be posted at a later date on Instagram @izzywrites_

I'm an absolute sucker for Arthurian legend, so I was reasonably eager to have found this one. That said, she takes a couple of liberties with the conventional story that I'm not entirely in love with. Also, everyone is boinking everyone - all the time! Which, like, who has time for governance and, idk, sustenance?

Anna Pendragon (the FMC) returns home to Carelon, her brother King Arthur's court, after the death of her husband. The court has changed quite a bit since she left as a child bride, and yet finds herself still haunted by a prophecy that was foretold at her birth.

The book is fast paced and is very descriptive - from the landscapes all the way down to the characters clothing. I found it light on dialogue and because of this, found it kind of read like Anna's personal diary. There is a lot of lost love - both romantic and familial. I know it was relates to the prophecy, but it just made super sad for Anna as a character.

The slow burn in this book isn't romance - it's the revealing of Anna's magical abilities. She slowly becomes aware she is able to wield magic, and then by the end of the book, it's full on.

✨Magic
✨ What if?
✨ LBGTQ+ representation 🌈

Reading this King Arthur/Camelot retelling, I honestly thought I knew more about the legend than I actually did. I recognized the names, but that was about it. So in the end, nothing was spoilt for me. However, Barron puts enough of a spin on everything, that even if you were familiar, you could still enjoy it.

*Thank you to Rebellion Publishing and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for my honest review*

This was such a delightful twist on the classic Arthurian legends we all know. Told from the point-of-view of Arthur’s younger sister Anna, we see the struggles of the women court while the men focus on starting wars, competing in tournaments, and obtaining the objects of their lust.

I cried so much for Anna throughout as it seemed every single chance at happiness was ripped away by the men surrounding her. You definitely feel a sense of female empowerment camaraderie as Anna begins to take control of her own destiny and no longer allowing men to make her choices.

I really enjoyed the villainizing of Merlin. He felt so much more like Arthur’s Rasputin, and it gave me such a sense of satisfaction when Anna rose up against him.

This was definitely an intriguing telling, and almost a cautionary tale about allowing others to write our destinies.

Thank you to the author, and NetGalley for the chance to read this wonderful twist on an Authur retelling.

Despite the slower pace, this book still kept my attention with the twists, and turns that are woven through out this fantasy romance.

Starting with the prophecy of Authur’s sister, and continuing through the masterful story of how Anne overcomes the constraints of her life, the voice within this read was well thought out, and captivating.

The cover of this book is absolutely stunning, and it immediately caught my attention. I simply couldn't resist picking it up and diving into the story within its pages. And I must say, I was not disappointed.

The story takes place in the captivating world of King Arthur, a realm filled with knights, magic, and adventure. As a fan of Arthurian legends, I thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself in this familiar yet unique setting. The author's interpretation of this world was refreshing and brought a new perspective to the beloved tales.

The plot itself was quite good, keeping me engaged from beginning to end. There were twists and turns that kept me on my toes, and I found myself eagerly turning the pages to see what would happen next. The characters were well-developed and added depth to the story, making me genuinely care about their fates.

Overall, I truly enjoyed reading this book. The combination of a stunning cover, an intriguing world of King Arthur, and a well-crafted story made for an enjoyable reading experience.

This was a great Arthurian fantasy romance retelling. You could see how much love and work the author put into her story. It was a slower pace, but I personally loved that and I took my time reading and savored this story.

Queen of None unfolds as a beautiful tapestry of Arthurian Fantasy Romance, where the the main character Anna. Pendragon, a character often relegated to the periphery in traditional tales. This was the first in a trilogy and offers a fresh perspective that is captivating and empowering.

The story starts with a prophecy that foretells Anna's obscurity, setting the stage for her famed brother none other than King Arthur. Despite the constraints of her time, Anna navigates a world where her worth is defined by her name, status, dowry and womb. The complexities of her life are set against the ever changing backdrop of a changing kingdom.

The story is full of intriguing characters and political machinations. The prose is rich and immersive, and easily drew me into the heart of Carelon and the intricacies of Anna's world. The character development is noteworthy, particularly as Anna struggles with her dark gift and the power that is emerging within her.

I felt like this was a successful reimagining of the Arthurian legend through a feminine lens, documenting the struggle of a woman coming into her own despite the constraints society imposed on her. Familiar figures such as Merlin, Morgen, Elaine and Morgause make an appearance and offer a fresh take on well-known characters.

The flow of the story went pretty well, but there were times that it felt like the intricacies of the plot were a little overwhelming. Being that this is the first installment in a trilogy, it sets the stage for more exploration of power, identity and destiny. I feel like this was a spotlight on a character who is often overlooked.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Queen of None was like diving in to a masterfully wover fantasy.

This Arthurian fantasy left me with new perspectives and a love for Natania Barron’s writing.

This book was beautifully written and while there were a few moments where I did feel that the story dragged on, I still thoroughly enjoyed it.

The plot beautifully unfolds as Anna struggles to work against the politics, and newfound powers.

There was a great mix between legend, lore and Natania’s own twist on the story, that leaves you wanting to learn more and more as the story starts to unravel!

A big thank you NetGalley and Natania Barron for providing me with an e-arc of Queen of None in exchange for an honest review! It is much appreciated!

dnf @ 60%
I think this book just wasn’t for me! I felt that the pace of it was a bit slower than I would have liked. I did however, love that it was a different take on the Arthurian legend and that it showed a powerful woman who was struggling through medieval power plays.

Summary:
Married at twelve, Anna, King Arthur's sister, lived a life devoid of youth's promise. Bearing three sons and surrendering the kingdom of Orkney through marriage, she returned to Carelon at Arthur's bidding, grappling with past demons and emerging threats while navigating her own evolving powers and ambitions.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book, all thoughts are my own.

One day I was strolling through Threads, and saw the Natania Barron herself talking about this book and how it was to become available on Netgalley. I read the synopsis, found it right up my alley, and just felt compelled to give it a chance.
And I am so happy I did - what a pleasant surprise this book was !
This book tells the story of Arthur's youngest full blooded sister Anna, after she is widowed and comes back live at Arthur's court. She believes she might found some peace and quiet after a miserable existence at Lothian/Orkney. Unfortunately, she is once again at Arthur and Merlin's mercy, and will be used as a means to an end, as most women were at the time, at the expense of her own happiness.

The author bent the legends here and there to fit the story, and I did not mind it, but i know some people might not like it. I liked Anna and her struggles to find agency, and liked to see her attempts at building relationships with her estranged family after so long. It was also good to see, through Anna's eyes, the beginning of the decline for Arthur's kingdom.
My critique is minor, I think . The pacing was a little off for me in the second half, where we have the revenge plot. That plot was good enough, but as other readers pointed out, would have benefited from some more build up/refining in my opinion.

Overall, it was a solid read. It is a first book on a trilogy, but it does leave loose ends, which i appreciate. Interest to see how the others will come about.

I thank Solaris Books and netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review