A great take on the Arthurian Legend. I love that women and the background of the Legend has been given more depth in this book. I felt like I had actually stepped into the tale!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to review this book. All opinions are my own.

This was a fun book that allows you to really peek into the lives of people who would typically have only ever been a side character. It’s so fascinating to see them as three dimensional people rather than just a face in the background.

In terms of the story itself it was a bit slow paced. I’m intrigued to see how the author will turn this into a trilogy! I would be interested in reading the next story!

I’m giving 3 stars because I did get to about 70% of the book. I ended up just losing interest in the story. I’m putting it down for now, and I’ll be picking it back up at a later date.

Was literally on the verge of killing myself when I finished this book. Blank and bleh. I wish I looked at the eclipse.

Did not finish.

I just could not get into this book and there are simply too many books out there to struggle through one that doesn't grab me.

I could see a true lover of Arthurian legend truly enjoying this book.

Honestly, it was fine. I think others may be interested. I just was not captivated while reading and it was a very slow start that did not command my attention.

I JUST COULDN'T FINISH

I made it to 83% percent and thought I could get to the end - but then I realised that this wasn't the end, because it's a series, and I just couldn't bring myself to finish.

What I liked

👍 Twist: The one thing that did kind of hold my attention was the twist to the 'original' story of King Arthur (if such a thing even exists). I especially liked the part Arthur played in what would otherwise normally be his story.

What I didn't like

👎 Beginning: Getting into this book was actually a bit difficult. I found the beginning to be slow and bogged down by too much background information.

👎 Characters: Sadly, I wasn't really feeling any of the characters. I just didn't connect with them, though I didn't sympathise with Anna and her plights.

A good fantasy and an original take on the Arthurian myth. Well plotted, gripping and entertaining.
I liked the characters, the scheming court, and the well plotted characters.
Can't wait to read the next one
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC

4.5 stars rounded to 5
It always brings me great joy when authors decided to give a spotlight to lesser known characters in history and legend, specially forgotten women. The story was rather slow, a bit more that I am used to, but it did not make it boring by any means. It was a journey through Anna's story and, even though I felt like the plot was a bit lost at times, it always bounced back to tie things together. The magic was interesting and it felt so fitting for the time period that it's set it. The writing style was captivating and personal, first person narration is quite hard to do in my opinion and Natania Barron made wonderful use of it to really put us inside Anna's skin.

I'm positive I will be reading the second book!

A magical story with a new focus on old myths. I loved Anna’s character and how she is portrayed. I also liked the focus on women’s duties in that time, political manoeuvres and most of all the feminism and revenge! It’s well written and lovely to read, although the pace is generally slow it doesn’t deter from the story, everything is relevant and interesting. Captivating and rich storytelling. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

DNF at 28%

I was really excited for this book but sadly it hasn't delivered and has been a struggle just to get a quarter of the way through. Literally nothing interesting has happened so far, I don't care about any of the characters and the fact that every at 28% I'm only part way through chapter 4 is insane. These are the longest chapters ever and the slow pacing makes you feel every single sentence.

I haven't wanted to pick this book up and it has ended up putting me in the biggest reading slump I've had in years. I was trying to fight through it but there is nothing that is making me feel like it's going to go somewhere.

Sadly, this had ended up being the biggest disappointment of 2024 so far for me, which is such a shame as I wanted to love this book so much.

The plot and characterization was fine and I would read more from this author but the pacing and dramatisation of events was really off.

It felt like,

*dramatic event or huge twist happens*
Characters: ooo... anyway have you seen my shoes? I got them made recently.

The book also doesn't really crescendo to its conclusion. The conclusion kinda feels like the same impact throwing a pebble in the ocean during a storm would make. Its build up was also really small, literally in the few pages before it.

It also didn't feel like a very nice ending. I didn't get that satisfaction you would want at the end of a book.

Personally, wouldn't recommend this book but that's not to say it wasn't enjoyable in parts

An interesting twist on Arthurian legend and its women, with a focus on Arthur's forgotten sister, Anna.

I really liked Anna as a character - she felt like a realistic portrayal of a woman in a medieval-esque world without removing her agency as a character. She's remarkably flawed but in a believable way.

The magical concept of <spoiler> Nimue, the person Anna creates and inhabits as part of her final scheme to take down Merlin, is fascinating and well-execeuted.</spoiler>

However, I did also have several issues with this book. One example is the character of Merlin - hatred for him is a large factor of Anna's later actions, yet he feels like a non-entity. We are told a lot of what he has done in the background - pulling the strings that effect the lives and remove the choices from Anna and the other royal women - and about Anna's hatred, but never really shown it, so that whilst I logically understood why Anna was angry, I never felt it, nor had a good grasp of him as a character or a villian.

This was part of a larger problem where we are told a lot about characters rather than shown and also how, with such a big cast of characters, there were those who fell into the background (Margawse, for example, who we are briefly introduced to near the start and then don't really see again until <spoiler> she is killed. </spoiler>)

Overall, anyone with an interest in Arthurian legends, particularly the women, might enjoy this, but it wasn't quite as immersive as I would have liked.

This was such a fun read. I loved the world and I loved all of these characters. This story was worth the read and I’m excited to see what this author writes next.

This was an excellent book! I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
The plot was compelling and it was very refreshing to see such a well-known legend told in this way. It was unique and in no way tiresome.
The characters were also very interesting and were well rounded.
I would definitely recommend this book for people who enjoy fantasy or books based on legends.

I would like to thank the author and Netgalley for the ARC!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Queen of None was a refreshing new viewpoint into the women of Arthurian legend.

I love how this was told from Anna Pendragon’s point of view. As an avid reader of Arthurian legends, this was the first book I’ve come across that explores her story in detail. She is a very forgotten character, often shadowed behind some of the more famous females such as Morgan le Fey and Guinevere. It was interesting to read how Barron wanted to write her story after discovering how Anna “remained a mystery”. The author gives her a voice, which provides an original and refreshing character and story that stands out amongst thousands of interpretations of the Arthurian legend.

The pace was calm but energetic, and never felt rushed. It suited Anna’s character and her slow transition as she begins to discover who she is, and as she creates a new alter ego. It felt like many of the Arthurian stories and characters we have come to know were layered and woven into the story, so it was kept fresh and interesting, but it all felt contained and connected.

The story was dominated by women. This interpretation definitely gave voice to the smattering of female characters in a traditionally male driven narrative. In the author’s words, this novel was written “for the millions of invisible women throughout history men have forgotten.” From female blacksmiths, to midwives to seductresses, the females of this novel were strong and Barron gave them their voice. The result was that this became more than just Anna’s story.

Arthurian legends often have that soft melding between history and magic, and Barron maintained this tradition beautifully. The story takes place in a time similar to the high medieval period, which is synonymous with Arthur the King, but also has elements of fantasy. This combined doesn't read as a high fantasy novel but instead is more subtle. This melding is one I really enjoy as to me, it feels more tangible and creates a suspension of disbelief.

This felt like a modern, refreshing and exciting new take on the Arthurian legend and is one I really enjoyed.

The author captivates us from the very beginning and doesn’t stop until the end of the book. The characters and world felt like I truly knew them and lived in the era. The author gives us what we’ve been needing from that time, the strong and courageous women. Beautifully written and truly unforgettable.

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

I requested this on NetGalley solely based on the stunning cover and was pleasantly surprised when I started it to find it was an Arthurian retelling. This story was written so well. It got a little bit confusing at times with such a large cast of characters, and a little bit uncomfortable at times with the marrying off of young girls, though I understand it was not uncommon back in the medieval times.

However, I truly enjoyed reading this and found the blending of legend with a new unique storyline to be captivating. I am very curious to see where things go in the rest of the series with how it ended! Would definitely continue the series!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of Queen of None in exchange for an honest review!

It's been a while since I've read an arthurian retelling and I really enjoyed it. It was a fresh take on old characters and I respect that the author took a character we know little about and spun such a fascinating narrative. It did feel slow at times but it never lost my interest. It was just a lot of planning and political maneuvering.

My favorite characters were Anna and Vyvian. It was fun to read about Anna discovering more secrets about her family and having to re-navigate the political landscape with so much time apart. Also, as someone that's been in the situation of having to move away from a town and then move back, the author portrayed it so very accurately. Having to make new connections, finding out old friends have come and gone without you, and see how everything has been rebuilt or changed around you is really hard. I really felt for Anna, especially having to go through all those things with the added dimensions of a court with a hierarchy and rules on how women should act.

While Arthur was making the big decisions, he felt like a minor character and I appreciated that. I think this was the darkest portrayal of Merlin that I've read and I thought that was an interesting take too. One character I did not enjoy was Nimue. I felt like she was written as both naive and a manipulative seductress and the contrast felt a bit icky (for lack of a better word). Anyways, she did further the plot and I appreciated her ending, but I didn't love her personality.

Overall, I gave the book 4 stars and I will definitely keep going with this series.

Thank you Solaris for my free ARC of Queen of None by Natania Barron — available May 21!

Read this if you:
🗡️ love retellings of Arthurian lore or mythology
💙 prefer your FMCs strong but realistically flawed
👑 are looking for a less-conventional love story

Anna Pendragon, sister of the king of Carelon, has not had a great time over the last 20 years. Married at 12 to the vicious king of Orkney, she gave him three sons and isn't sad to see him into the grave. Now, Anna returns to Carelon and the many machinations always at play in such a powerful kingdom. Will she be doomed to a life of invisibility and obscurity, as Merlin prophesied years ago? Or will she have more influence than anyone dares to imagine?

This was such a fun reimagining of the court of Carelon/Camelot. Arthur plays a teeny tiny role (good), and the women definitely take the spotlight. I absolutely loved the magic aspect and the identity twists therein — Anna was such an easy character for me to connect with, and I think it was great to see her have so large a role in the stories we're already familiar with. The writing in here is great and flows well, and I never found myself bored or wanting more. Can't wait for the second book, because I adore the character featured in that one!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️