While the first book in the series started a little slow this one definitely did not.. Loved watching the chemistry develop between the main characters. Quite the ending - can't wait to read the next book.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

DNF'd at 11%. I couldn't do it. Morgan is just so annoying. She whined the whole time and it seemed like the author was trying to create banter but Morgan just came out as an entitled brat

⭐️3.5
Don’t get me wrong, I love a good set of trials trope. However, it dragged quite a bit for me in this book. It felt like the first 20% and the last 20% had great plot twists and the pacing was great, but the middle 60% was a lot of the same stuff over and over. And having 3 trials but multiple parts to some of the trials felt like a bit too much for me, personally. But that being said, the last 20% really brought it back around in my opinion! Can’t wait to see where the story goes!

2.5⭐️
Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC of this book.

In book 2 of the Blood of the Fae series, we pick up just after the events of book 1, where Morgan wakes after her near death experience. I really enjoyed how the main events of book 1 were summarized in the first chapter to catch the reader up at the same time as catching up Morgan.
Unfortunately, after this the book went way downhill for me.

I felt like this was a bridge book through and through, where not a lot progressed plot wise but the events that did take place were not explained or fleshed out. There were a lot of points that I felt we were just being told pieces of information, or huge plot altering pieces, but were thrown around with no impact. It felt like every single fantasy trope and plot twist were included for shock value and just to have them in there, but because they were so oversaturated, I was never surprised when the next one showed up. Of COURSE Morgan is the only one who can partake in the trials in Draven’s place, of COURSE the exmoor has wings, of COURSE Morgan and Draven’s bond links their lives.

There was multiple points where we could have gotten great creature bonding and training moments, that just never happened. We never got to LEARN about the exmoor with Morgan or about her powers and how they work., it was just told that these had already happened.

Morgan herself was a whole other issue for me. She felt hot and cold, and never had a consistent opinion. Or even a valid reason for holding the opinion she had. She was mad at Draven for 95% of the book and the other 5% was filled with cringey dialogue of “flirting”.

I’m still holding out hope that the series will get better, but this was a huge let down for me.

And here silly me thought the first book was good. Guys this was second level. I’m obsessed with this series right now that it’s my whole life. I don’t know what to do with my life until I get time to read the next book 😭😭
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book

Such a good read that I couldn’t put it down. This whole series has been phenomenal! I managed to read it all in one sitting

Curses. Forced proximity. Found family (sort of). A magical library. Giant battle cats. Deadly trials. Enemy to lovers (singular, because Morgan is fighting the air at this point).

In the second book Draven has to undergo multiple trials in a deadly and gruesome race to the throne. Morgan is learning to gain trust and acclimatize to a new court.

I’m sorry to say that this book disappointed me so much. I absolutely loved the first book but this one was a pain to finish.

Morgan is so insufferable and annoys me to no end. She keeps describing Draven as arrogant. Yet all he has shown her is compassion and honor. She’s so mean to him. Morgan keeps calling Draven her enemy and I guess she is at his court against her will but Draven hasn’t shown that she is also his enemy. It’s like she’s fighting with air. The hatred is one-sided. She’s also very disrespectful and judgmental towards his people’s culture and customs. She behaved so badly throughout this whole book. Very immature and entitled. Worse than an angsty teenager. She also blames everyone but herself for literally everything. There is no accountability when it comes to her own actions. Morgan has a tendency to transform her own guilt into a very ugly weapon and blame innocent people for others’ deaths. She hates everyone and everything is everyone else’s fault. I don’t like this type of person.

This book is also riddled with inconsistencies. The language used doesn’t match the time period this story is supposedly set in. There’s a lot of modern language. Also sayings that were not used during the medieval times. For example ‘that hits too close to home’ (first usage was in the late 1800s).

Another inconsistency happens during the end of the first trial. What happened to Erion in the first trial? He’s suddenly not mentioned anymore even though everyone else that didn’t make it or did make it gets mentioned. Then he suddenly gets mentioned again quite a few chapters later.

This book also had a very slow start. The romance is very 0-100 then back to 0 again. The build up in the first book was great but I feel like the first half of the second book completely broke down that build-up so it was very weird when they did end up getting together for a lil bit. For someone that supposedly hates the other, doesn’t trust him, thinks he’s the worst person to walk this earth, it just seems very strange that she would suddenly let all of her disgust go and end up in bed with this person.

Long story short: I have serious issues with this book. I’ll just pretend this book isn’t part of this series and move on to book 3.

Steamy, Arthurian, Fantasy Retelling

Morgan found herself in a strange place, and it was about to get a lot stranger. Draven saved her life, but she had lost everything she knew. Would she understand why Draven had brought her to this deadly dangerous court in which she found herself?

This story is full of action and adventure. Secrets, strange creatures, deadly battles, and court intrigue will keep you turning the pages. I look forward to reading the next book in this series. What will happen to Morgan and Draven on their dangerous adventure, full of magic, mayhem, and deadly peril?

4 stars!!

I loved the first book so much, really enjoyed this one still as well, and will definitely be reading the rest of the series cause I love it so much.
King Arthur retelling with fae and enemies to lovers?? Absolutely my cup of tea!!

But as much as I love the story, the plot twists, the male love interest, and the world building I do have to admit that I loved the first book more than this sequel.
Only because I kept getting so so frustrated with our main character in this story and how she reacted to somethings.
Still really enjoyed it and highly recommend though!!

Review is posted on Goodreads & Instagram so far, and blog post is scheduled for August 11th.

I’m so glad I stuck with this series because I really enjoyed Court of Claws, much more than the first book!

I was drawn in right from the start, I loved the characters who were varied and had great depth, the chemistry between Morgan and Drawn was insane, the setting was super immersive and the plot was full of twists and turns. The setting and world building was intricate and clever, and while the romance was fantastic, the fantasy was also standout.

The ending was a little chaotic but I stayed intrigued throughout the book and the set up for the next book was well done, absolutely kept me invested. The relationships are at the heart of the series and them going up and down is incredibly compelling. The different areas and subplots are very diverse and them coming together should be fantastic in the next book.

Court of Claws has enough substance and appeal to keep me thinking about it, which isn’t all too common in a lot of romantasy books these days!

You did it again. This was an amazing sequel and the spice is spicying. You continue to keep me so engrossed that my daily life is falling apart; stop it (don't). I cannot wait for number 3

This was like Hunger Games meets Game of Thrones but make it fae.

This review contains spoilers. Court of Claws takes us deeper into Draven’s world and we get to know a lot more about his past and the Siabra. The exmoor history was also really interesting and one of my favorite scenes in the book. This had more action, magic, world building—and the trials had you on the edge of your seat. New side characters were introduced that I loved like Beks, Crescent, Hawl, Nightclaw, and even Lyrastsra, who was a pleasant surprise! I did have a hard time connecting with Morgan in this book due to her actions, especially when she was so mean to Draven and although I understand she was conflicted and mistrusted him, it was frustrating when she put a lot of the blame on him. Granted, he wasn’t very forthcoming either. The spice was hitting, but their emotional relationship still has some more growth and development to do and I am looking forward to that in the next book now that they’re officially bonded as husband and wife! After that cliffhanger, I can’t wait to see what happens next and where things are headed in Camelot.

"Court of Claws" by Briar Boleyn is an enthralling fantasy novel that masterfully blends political intrigue, romance, and mythical creatures. The story centers around a cunning and resilient protagonist who navigates a perilous court filled with treachery and power struggles. Boleyn's rich world-building and complex character development keep readers hooked from start to finish. The book's vivid descriptions and unpredictable plot twists make it a must-read for fans of the fantasy genre.

It was alright. I found most of the story a little boring.

I did enjoy meeting Nightclaw and the last 30 % of the book had me hooked but that first 70% was pretty slow, and with the long chapters it did take me a while to get through!

I will be reading the next book though! I am intrigued enough that I need to know what's going on.

This book wasn't as engaging as book one of the series, but I still enjoyed it overall. The world expanded quite a bit. Some of the character development felt lacking, but I did really like the new characters we were introduced to. The trial games kept things interesting and kept the pace moving along. Overall, I'm still planning on continuing the series, and I'm interested to see where the plot goes from here.

I’m devouring this series!!

The plot had me hooked from the get-go, with so many twists and turns that I couldn’t put it down. Each new revelation pulled me deeper into the mystery. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, bam—a cliffhanger that left me scrambling for the next book. Totally gripping and a must-read!

Book 2 feels like a move away from the Arthurian legend, where we’re more focused on Draven’s world than Morgan’s. I liked the world building, I think the author does a good job of giving you a lot of details without it being too much. Her descriptions also really helped me, as a visual reader, picture the palace and world of Myntra.

What I liked: learning more about Draven and his world, you get hints of there being more to him in book 1 and how it played out here I liked. We’re introduced to more magical creatures, some parts took me by surprise which at first I didn’t think I was enjoying but actually was once I gave them a chance. Some of the new characters are likeable and I liked all the new magic which is a much heavier feature in COC.

What I didn’t like so much: I’m still a little irked by Morgan’s character, I actually like Draven more at this point even though his skirting around questions and giving truthful answers got quite annoying. Also the problematic secret marriage thing…I just feel like Morgan is very hot and cold, she doesn’t really stick to her guns for long and it took up a bit too much space for my enjoyment. I also, sadly, wasn’t that bothered by the trials. I think they had more potential but they felt a bit too quick - especially the final one which I had hoped would be Morgan’s badass reckoning and it fell a bit flat.

Overall I still enjoyed the book, I’m invested in how it’ll further develop and I am looking forward to get back to Camelot and hopefully see Morgan’s character start to grow. This is another 3.5⭐️ but rounded up to 4 for this rating, there is still just some lacking oomph for me.

A review has been posted to Goodreads, I plan to also share a consolidated review on my instagram once I finish the series.

"Briar Boleyn's 'Court of Claws,' the second installment in her captivating fantasy series, delves deeper into a world of intrigue, magic, and political machinations. Building on the foundation laid in the first book, Boleyn expands the realm of mystical creatures and human courtiers, weaving a tale of power struggles and personal discovery.

In 'Court of Claws,' protagonist Aria continues her journey amidst the complex dynamics of courtly life. Boleyn's writing remains immersive and evocative, vividly depicting the lush landscapes and intricate court politics that define the series. Aria's growth as a character is palpable, as she confronts new challenges and uncovers deeper layers of the realm's history and her own lineage.

The novel excels in its portrayal of alliances and betrayals within the court. Boleyn deftly navigates the relationships between characters, each with their own ambitions and secrets, adding layers of tension and suspense to the narrative. As Aria navigates these treacherous waters, her alliances are tested, and she must make difficult choices that shape her destiny.

Boleyn's world-building remains a highlight of the series, with magical elements seamlessly integrated into the story. From mythical creatures to ancient prophecies, 'Court of Claws' expands the scope of the series while maintaining its sense of wonder and mystery.

Overall, 'Court of Claws' is a compelling continuation of Briar Boleyn's fantasy series, offering readers a rich tapestry of adventure, intrigue, and character development. Fans of epic fantasy will find themselves eagerly immersed in Aria's journey and the vibrant world Boleyn has crafted."

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Blood of a Fae is a dark fantasy romance series ~ second book Court of Claws
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the Arc to this book.
This book was in my opinion much better than the first of the series. It continued the story without spending most of the book recapping the previous which I appreciated. I began to feel more invested in the characters and the decisions they made.
I feel like this book could have moved into the 4/5⭐️ rating if it was duel POV. There is so much in the book that would have been good to read from the MMC perspective.
This book also leaves readers on a cliffhanger. I personally will be taking a break from this series however plan to return to them in the future.
Trigger warnings:
Abduction
Abuse
Cannibalism
Death
Violence
Gore

This was a lot stronger than book one, in my opinion and therefore I liked it a lot more. There was time for Morgan and Draven to be in each other's presence and for the readers to get to spend time with them, which allowed us to witness the chemistry building far more than we were given the chance to experience through book one.

I will say this series has every trope under the sun. Guard who turns out to be prince in disguise? Check. Unexpected powers? Check. Forced proximity? Only one bed? Fake dating - or so she believes? Check. The list honestly goes on and one. Them being mates. Surprise we're married. I'm pretty sure there's even a "who did this to you." Though that may have been in the last book with Florian. Basically, there are times in which it feels as if this series is relying on the tropes we love so much <i>more</i> than the actual story being told.

I think that's probably why I'm keeping this at four stars. Well, that and the fact I still think some of the progression of their relationship is lacking a little. It's not the chemistry. I do think Morgan and Draven have great chemistry. But I also think this book is very focused on moving the plot along (good for it, tbh, so many books suffer with that) that sometimes the character - and relationship - development suffers. So instead of really getting the signals that Draven is falling in love, we simply get his proclamation. And maybe it's supposed to be a bit jarring. But I think the story could have shown the readers without Morgan catching on.

All of this sounds like I'm complaining about this book, but I'm really not. I love tropes. I love Morgan and Draven. I'll definitely finish the series. I just... don't expect to be obsessed.