This book was a really good read and the world building and cliffhanger were an amazing start to the series. Morgan was a great female main character and this book was a good start to her character development I felt. Draven was such a fantastic edition also, I loved his character.

Queen of roses follows Morgan Pendragon, sister of King Arthur, who is rumoured to have fae blood. Morgan is treated as an outcast and promised to the goddesses once she comes of age. When Arthur orders she go on a dangerous journey to obtain a fae relic that may not even exist, Morgan takes the chance to see the world before her fate is sealed.

I gave this book 3.5 ⭐️. I really wanted to love this book. At its core, it is everything I should love. Fae, mythological retelling, romantasy, a dark and broody MMC. But this book took forever to get into. The first 50% is mostly world building, with excessive detailing and too much focus on court politics. While it does try to set up the family structure and the world building, it does so in a way that takes far too long to get to the point. However, at around the 50% mark, the book completely changes. The main plot begins, the excessive detail tapers off, and it becomes an intriguing and more polished story.

This book features:
- Dark broody MMC
- Fae
- Long journey
- Court politics
- Hidden powers
- Mythical creatures

While this book was laborious getting into the main plot, once it got there this book was twisting and exciting. I cannot wait to start book 2 and continue with Morgan’s story

Queen of Roses is a great fit for readers who enjoy slow-burn romantic fantasies with a touch of danger, featuring morally gray characters and fae lore.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this book! I throughly enjoyed reading and can’t wait to start the next one!

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

This was quite an exciting and highly anticipated read for me as I love the story of King Arthur and Camelot and when you throw in fae and romance I knew I would be hooked!

I really liked the pacing the author took in this book as it was fast yet you got to understand the world and the characters' backgrounds well enough to feel invested in it all. I also really enjoyed how the characters aren't just their tropes and you can see the dimension in each of them and understand why they act the way they do.

This book will have you hooked early on and you won't want to stop until you finish. It is definitely worth adding to the list of fantasy romance books that are a must read! I cannot wait to read the next installments!

Thank you NetGalley and Briar Boleyn for the ARC!

Excellent book that adds a new realm to the fantasy genre. Gripping storytelling, fully developed characters, and intrigue that makes it hard to put down. Highly recommend for adult audiences into fantasy romances.

"But in war, people often disintegrate, becoming versions of themselves they never thought they could ever be"

A refreshing take on the Arthurian Legend, with a fae twist. Morgan Pendragon knows better than anyone what it's like to be overlooked, and underestimated. Having her birth right taken from under her nose, for the rumours circulating that she's part Fae, Morgan is forced to serve the three goddesses on her twenty first birthday, rather than taking her rightful place upon the throne. So, when her brother the King of Camelot sends her on a perilous mission to find a legendary Fae weapon, she sees a way of bargaining to change her fate, and finally take control of her life.

Morgan is an interesting character, she's intelligent, brave and bold. Finding subtle ways to defy the duties placed upon her, and rebelling against her depraved brother's rule, Morgan learns to fight alongside members of the Royal Guard, visits the town tavern with her friends, and secretly helps the people of her kingdom who are struggling to survive on the meagre food available, determined to take as much control of her life as possible before she's forced into a life of servitude. It was really beautiful to see her growing into herself, and embracing all sides of herself as she embarks on this journey. She starts off as this naïve and timid young lady, who although has big feelings, often obeys to keep the peace, which given the trauma and pain she's dealt with, makes her feel even more fully realised. Morgan is sweet, tender, and easily trusting, but becomes so tenacious and bold as she begins to trust her instincts a little more, embracing her inner strength, and beginning to heal from all the trauma and brutality she's faced at the hands of those who were supposed to love and protect her.

Kairos Draven is the newest recruit of the Royal Guard, a cold, aloof and majorly grumpy, intimidating mountain of a man who had me in an absolute chokehold. He's got a darker, more callous side to him that was truly delicious to see. His snarky, cocky attitude and quick wit when bantering with Morgan was utterly delectable and just so fun to watch, I loved seeing a jovial side to this stone faced grump.

Lancelet... oh this woman... she has my entire heart, this woman is such a powerhouse, blunt and forthright, she enjoys a little confrontation every once in a while, especially if it means bringing a man's ego down. She is a fierce, and strong warrior, and I adored her, and her ability to hit on the prettiest woman in the room with unwavering confidence, a queen after my own heart.

This is a slow, slow burn enemies to lovers, with a dash of love triangle smooshed into the middle, which I was unsure of, as I felt like it took away a bit of the tension that was brewing between Draven and Morgan, and I loved watching them constantly trying to outwit each other. However, it felt like as soon as the new interest was introduced it revolved heavily on them getting closer to Morgan, and Draven kind of fell out of the picture, which was a little frustrating.

'Queen of Roses' is a gritty, dark and immersive read. The world building was atmospheric and seamlessly transports you away from reality into this action-packed, intriguing and thrilling story. Brimming with betrayal, fae, an intricately crafted world, deep political intrigue, and beautiful character growth and development. The pacing was slow at first but it was heavy on the world-building for that part, but it soon picked up, even if there were some parts that I felt still dragged on a little longer than needed. However.... the action scenes... holy fuck, they had my heart POUNDING and the last few chapters?!?!?Excuse me.... I was gasping and pacing the floor... I was SHOOK by the twist, and it just kept twisting, it was INSANELY GOOD like head exploding good. I am gasping for the next book in the series.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Receiving an advanced copy was a delightful surprise. I believe both existing fans and newcomers will find it equally enjoyable.

This was a great introduction to the series. Loved it. I did predict some of the plot towards the end and got a bit confused but definitely looking forward to continuing on with this series and having things come together more. Thankyou so much for the ARC!

Great start to the future books, great world building and a retelling of King Arthurs story based in Fae world theme was superb. I found FMC a bit annoying, as a princess she should know her world, her legacy but it felt like she had more questions about that than I did which took some bookish points for me. The slow burn romance turned to be really slow and I was waiting for that fire to start but I left a bit disappointed.

Half-Fae princess Morgan, born into a life of duty, seizes an opportunity for freedom when tasked with a dangerous mission by her brother. Alongside a mysterious soldier, she navigates a perilous journey, discovering a fae kingdom resurfacing to reclaim lost power. As Morgan grapples with her desires and the secrets in her blood, she realizes the perilous threat she poses in a world of lies and mysteries.
If you love the magical world of the fae with a twist on the legend of Camelot, this is the book for you. Boleyn’s writing style is very unique and took me a little bit to get used to but I absolutely love how she writes dialogue and how the book is paced. I really enjoyed this dark fantasy romance filled with a slow burn and angsty enemies to lovers romance, fae, secrets, and betrayal, and just the right amount of action and adventure to balance it out.

Queen of Roses is a fantasy romance with fae, mythical creatures, and adventure. It has forced proximity, enemies to lovers, and SLOW burn romance. The world building is thorough and well done and the characters are complex. I would have enjoyed if the action and romance had picked up a little sooner in the story but really enjoyed the adventure this story took me on. It has betrayal, friendship, LGBTQ+ themes, and just the right amount of plot twists. And OH MY!! that cliffhanger was a doozy! I can’t wait to start the next book.

This book is a dark fantasy romance, inspired by King Arthur, and loosely a retelling of this. For the most part, I really enjoyed this story. It had strong world building and interesting, fully fleshed out characters, including some that were so so awful I can hate them with my entire being! I think I enjoyed the set up and the first half of the story the most, but that’s just a personal preference of not liking quest like setups which happens towards the middle of the book as they leave to find an artefact.

I will say, I loved Morgan Pendragon and Draven - their banter and snarky back and forth was so fun and while this is a romance in part, it is definitely a slow burn so be prepared if that’s not your cup of tea.

I loved how the ending of the story picked up and wow, what a cliffhanger it left on. It leaves you wanting more and craving answers that I’m sure the second book will provide.

I kindly received this book as an ARC from NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an honest review.

I haven’t fully committed to the world of the fae that seems to be sweeping every readers pages and hearts recently but this book was a great way to start my journey. Morgan, a kind-hearted princess, gets partnered with Draven, a dark and broody giant of a man, and well you can already imagine the fun that occurs in this story. I thought the characters were fun and well developed and the story was intriguing and left me wanting more. I will definitely be pursuing the end of this story and I’m excited to see where it takes me.

Thank you for giving me this arc in exchange for an honest review. As somebody who has recently delved into the fantasy world, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down. I have now purchased it for my kindle and look forward to continuing the series

Morgan a part fae has lived in a life she hasn’t wanted. She’s to be given to the temple after being stripped from her birthright of the throne as it’s given to her brother. Her brother sends her on a long and dangerous quest for a sword that she doesn’t even think is real. Her brother sends her accompanied by his hired royal guard and another rude man. Along the way they run into things they always read about but never thought were real. Morgan learns and develops things she never knew about herself. They wander into the hidden kingdom where they have no idea what awaits them inside.

This was my dive into fantasy and I loved it! I love the description of each character the author uses! I love all the attention to detail she pays to every aspect of her writing. The story built really well for me and I stayed glued to it. There’s so many twists and turns that you never see coming. I’m already diving into the second book!

Thank you to Victory Editing, NetGalley, and of course Briar Boleyn for giving me a chance to read her series!

'Queen of Roses' is a captivating take on a familiar tale now teeming with fae lore and forbidden love. Through the eyes of Morgan Pendragon, we are introduced to a narrative that is as much about the epic quest and adventure as it is about finding one's place in the world.

The story excels in its rich world-building and character development, particularly that of Morgan and the dangerous Kairos Draven. Morgan is a character of resilience and depth, constantly battling the preconceived notions of her destiny and the fae blood coursing through her veins. Her journey of self-discovery and finding her own place forms the core of the tale, but the added romance that simmers slowly, builds a truly fantastic storyline.

The slow burn of the romance, coupled with extensive world-building that can at times be confusing in the initial chapters, requires patience that pays off as the narrative gains momentum and leads into not just a dazzling romance, but hefty cliffhanger (thank you for sending book 1 AND 2). However, the changes to Arthurian legend, something I'm not a stickler on, were enough to both maintain the familiarity that is comforting yet still be exciting in not just the new take, but specifically the POV of Morgan, a character I haven't seen a retelling through before.

“I was born to be a queen. But even queens could be set aside and forgotten. Or worse. Remembered but relegated to shadows.”

Camelot would never live to see someone of fae heritage take the throne - at least that’s what Morgan Pendragon’s father made clear when he promised her to the goddesses, and named her younger brother, Arthur, as heir apparent. After their father’s death, Arthur proved to be an unkind and unyielding king willing to put anything on the line so long as it assures his power. Their kingdom on the brink of war, Morgan’s fae bloodline was finally seen as a boon: only she can retrieve the sword that will bring Arthur victory. Embarking on this journey with two members of Arthur’s court, Morgan will finally learn of the history and power she has been denied her entire life.

Queen of Roses is a loose Arthurian retelling following the story of Morgan le Fay. Growing up with stories of King Arthur and Excalibur, reading Arthur the antagonist was a first for me that I found super intriguing! Trope readers will love to see this slow burn, adversaries to lovers situation that you can see coming from a mile away. While I found a good amount of the twists to be predictable, I really enjoyed the read after things picked up in the second half and my rating lands at 3.75/5. This book ends on a major cliffhanger, and I’m excited to see what happens next!

**Please note that this story has multiple trigger warnings that should be noted before reading, including violence, assault, body horror (including to children), and child death**

I got this of netgalley and I'm glad I did. I really loved the story and the new take of faes and human relationship. the story's flow is quite good and it doesn't get boring. i loved Morgan and I cant wait to know more about her and her powers! Now I'm not sure of Draven. I can't get a feel out of him and with the way the book has ended and I'm scared and thrilled to see how Morgan reacts to what Draven has done!