The Court of Claws picks up where Queen of Roses leaves off. Draven has taken Morgan to Siabra to recover. Of course, there's a lot of drama there given his 20 year absence. We discover a lot of secrets in this volume. Boleyn keeps the pacing by adding a hunger games style competition. I, like Morgan, felt anxious that we were so far away from Camelot. What are her friends up to? What happened to Lancelot? Is Kaye ok? It's a a great book but I would have loved more glimpses into the action across the ocean. There is, of course, a marriage of convenience and new characters a plenty. This story amps up the romance and spicy too! Thanks to Starwater Press, NetGalley, and Briar Boleyn for this eARC!

*This book was gifted by netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!*
I am absolutely obsessed with this series so far I can’t recommend it enough. This had me on a crazy emotional plot twisting roller coaster. If you love from blood and ash, Acotar, and Hunger games pick up immediately. Warning I’m going to be sharing some SPOILERS in the review cause i just gotta vent about this book 😩.
In this book we get to see what happens after Draven Saves our girl Morgan from the front porch step of the grim reaper. We get to learn all about Draven and his big time secret of being A FREAKING FAE THIS WHOLE FREAKING TIME!!! And not just any fae but the Prince of the Siabra fae. Tsk tsk Draven you and your little secrets I wonder if you’ll ever stop hiding things from us….OH WAIT YOU DONT 😩.
*morgan saving nightclaw that whole saga had me crying I already love Morgan but that just made me love her even more.
*I love Hawl 🐻 that’s all
*I KNEW MORGAN WASNT JUST A HALF FAE I KNEW IT!!! However did not expect her to be royalty 👀
*DRAVEN YOU MF YOU SON OF A GUPPY YOU HAD ME SO SAD FOR YOU JUST CROSSING MY FINGERS FOR YOU THAT YOU WOULD LIVE AND LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER WITH MY GIRL. But here you are letting her risk her life for you while you pretend to snooze like a toddler. Morgan should get a free pass to kick you in the nuts. You better redeem yourself boy.
*I love Beks and I was sobbing everytime he showed up cause he’s just so innocent and sweet and he’s just a wittle man. When Morgan hugged him I was silent screaming from the sweetness AND THEN WE HAD TO GO AND KILL MY BOY 😭 MY BOY!!!!! Feral freaking crying. I don’t think l’ll recover from that.
* Rychel smart funny Rychel really you were so smart why did you think going to those upitty fae was a good idea 🤦🏻‍♀️

this review was posted on good reads and instagram as of May `18 2024

Okay well, new world, new characters but at least some of the answers I had from book one were answered.

Let’s start with the plot and the world building. What I said for the first book still stands. I like this new world, the new development and plot points introduced in this book are clear and easy to follow. For the most part.
I have a feeling the author was trying to achieve a big moment when a key element is revealed and everyone is shocked. However, she decides to do so using the miscommunication trope. And that’s when my frustration and discontent stems from.

I have a hug problem with the romance in this book. The two MMCs could be great together. The chemistry is there and the potential as well. What’s in their path you ask? Morgan’s immaturity.
It’s incredibly frustrating how many times she demands answers to her questions and straight up refuses to listen and accept the truth. She also has the annoying habit of stopping Draven from speaking just when he’s about to tell her something important.
By doing this, not only does their relationship feel flat and discontinuous but we also get confused about things that honestly could have been better handled if only she let him speak.

I get her frustration in the beginning and I get her denial after a traumatic event. But then what’s the excuse? Like, grow up and open up your ears girl.

However, the story is fast paced, it’s filled with action and politics and lore which are all elements I enjoy in a romantasy. I’m curious to see how things develop and get resolved but the way we basically are thrown back to square one by the end of the book makes me a bit wary to reach for the next book straight away.

The saga that began in "Queen of Roses, of Morgan Pendragon continues. She awakens in a castle, which she learns in underground, in Draven's country. She starts whining then and never stops throughout the book. Draven tries. repeatedly, to let her know that his choices are all being driven to protect her, but she is unrelenting in her immature protests to every decision he has made. In all my reading of the Arthurian legends, I found Morgan to be cunning, not over wrought. By the end of the book, I had grown weary of her. I will continue onto the third title in the series, Empress of Fae, because I want to know what happens to Draven.

I truly appreciate the opportunity to read the arc provided by Stillwater Press and NetGalley to read the arc in return for an honest review.

The second book in the Queen of Roses series stepped from YA into Romantasy. Mid-level spice, depending on one’s own taste. The storyline continues on at a steady pace. What is unique about this book than some other series, like ACOTAR or TOG, is that there is a significant focus on the FMC’s love interest’s storyline rather that solely her storyline. It is a refreshing take from the FMC who can succeed at everything with arrogance and 100% of the focus.

In this second story in the “Blood of a Fae” series, Morgan wakes to find herself in a new court in a foreign land and some big new information about Kairos Draven. Overall this was a reasonable follow up.There were some points were a few character’s development seemed to regress but we get some really fun new characters that fill in the gaps. There’s more Fae, more magic, more spice. The set up for book 3 is intriguing as well.

Read this if you like:
➡️ Fake Relationships
➡️ Only one bed
➡️ Trial to death
➡️ Morally gray characters
➡️ Enemies to lovers
➡️ Magical animal companions
➡️ Found Family

⭐⭐⭐ 🔥🔥🔥

The second book in the Blood of a Fae series picks up more or less where the first ended. I say more or less because there are some gaps that get filled in somewhat throughout the book. Draven has taken Morgan home where he hopes to assemble an army to help her defeat Arthur, but in order to do so, he has to fight his way through a series of trials (and competitors). Meanwhile, Morgan is still struggling to control her magic and has taken the tactic of just pretending it doesn’t exist, which is bound to not work.

I am so glad I continued this series because this book surpassed the first in the series in my opinion. I love the competition as a framework for this book (or really any book…). With more world building to do, this book manages to balance the world building with the plot much better than its predecessor. I do wish there were a map because this book’s setting is completely different to the first and a map relating the two would be helpful. I thought Draven became a much more fully fleshed out character in this book, even if Morgan seems to not see that. And while I found her frustrating some of the time, Morgan’s development of her magic and feelings are both done well. I was not a fan of the way this book created more tension for our main couple at the end (I assume as a means of doing the third act breakup to make them not a couple again for the start of book 3), but I understand the desire to put that tension there to allow them to rebuild the relationship in the remaining books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Starwater press for the copy of this book!

📚Court of Claws, Blood of a Fae Book 2
🖋️Author: Briar Boleyn
📆Publication date: June 30 2023
🗂️Genre: Adult Dark Fantasy Romance

•ARC REVIEW•

4,5/⭐️

📌Summary:
“Court of Claws” by Briar Boleyn is the second installment of the series “Blood of a Fae”. It follows the story of Morgan Pendragon (King Arthur’s sister) who has the blood of the fae and after the events of the first book ends up in the court of Siabra, and Kairos Draven wants to keep her by his side.

📌Review:
This book reminded me of why fantasy is my favorite genre. It was set in such a fantastic world, it was fast paced and the chemistry between the characters was out of this world. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

Thoughts:
If you love Sarah J Maas and Rebecca Yarros, this book series is definitely for you.

I would like to thank Netgalley for the free copy.

Fae, Harpies, Exmoors and more! Honestly, I want an Exmoor.
This book is riddled with great world building and characters you love to love as well as characters you love to hate. I'd like to throat punch a couple of them.
I'm totally hooked on the storyline and can't wait to jump into book 3.
Currently adding Draven to my book boyfriend list.

“𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒍𝒂𝒖𝒈𝒉, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒓𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒊𝒕, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒐...𝑰𝒕 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅. 𝑴𝒚 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅.”

This series so far is absolutely stellar. Book 2 was definitely less of the Arthurian Legend behind it because it details more about the Fae side of things. I loved the whole questing for Excalibur in book 1 and the world building of Arthur and I enjoyed getting more of a look into the Fae and to who Draven is. He was such a mystery in the first book and holy smokes that man is 🥵. He might be a new favorite of mine. He wears a very good mask around everyone but the people closest to him know he's actually incredibly kind, he puts other people first, and he's incredibly loyal. I loved watching Morgan get to see him truly. And watching Morgan find out more about herself and step into her own power.

“𝑴𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒂𝒏 𝑷𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒔 𝒇𝒂𝒓 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒏𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒕. 𝑺𝒉𝒆'𝒔 𝒂 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒅𝒐 𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒇𝒍𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒓 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒍𝒊𝒑𝒔 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏.”

Also, battlecats as familiars? I will never not love kitties in books. 😂 I enjoyed how in this book we get a trial of sorts. So far this series hits all of my favorite Fantasy things: epic quests and now trials to the death? What more could you ask for in a fantasy series?!

Also, this woman and the last few chapters of each book so far. She loves to have you in absolute shambles and leaving you hanging off that cliff. 😭 It's cruel but, it only makes me want more. So into book three we go.

𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔:
✨️: 5/5
🌶: 2.5/5

Thanks Netgalley for a copy of this book.

Okay I am hooked on this series!
This book focused a lot more on building Morgan and Dravens relationship, as well as giving more history to the both of them, making me love them both a lot more.

The trials the contestants for the throne had to compete in vaguely reminded me of ACOTAR, but I really enjoyed reading it- very well written! I didn’t quite understand why Draven did what he did at the end though- I also would have been fuming when I found out. Definitely agreed that the main antagonists death in this book was extremely underwhelming and not at all satisfying.

Of course, I absolutely loved the build up of the relationship between Morgan and her exmoor. I love when a MC has a great relationship with an animal of some sort. Tickles my heartstrings 🤣

I am excited to start the third book.

My review of the first book still stands- fuck them kids.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Starwater Press, and Briar Boelyn for this ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
Tropes: enemies to lovers, found family, slow burn, touch her and you die, spicy fantasy.
Book two starts off sort of slow placed like book one and then it slowly picks up speed and from there it’s fast paced. I absolutely loved the banter between Morgan and Draven. Morgan’s sarcasm never failed to make me laugh. I LOVED learning more about both Draven’s and Morgans heritages, Morgan’s just absolutely blew my mind, all of my theories were promptly thrown out the window. I spent the whole book rooting for Draven whom I fell in love with in pretty early on in book one. At times I really felt like Morgan was fighting him a little too hard on everything and her defiance almost started to annoy me, but at the same time Draven has always been mysterious and secretive so I just had to keep reminding myself her perspective of him was different and her experiences were very different than mine. I just felt like you could tell how much he feels for her through all of his actions and my heart was breaking for the man. When the spice finally hit I wasn’t expecting dravin to have such a dirty mouth, HOT DAMN. Once again I didn’t see all of the plot twists that came my way and I really didn’t expect the cliffhanger at the end. I can’t wait to start the third book!!

So I couldn’t put this one down. I was up until 3:30am finishing this book! This book was much more emotional for me. I found myself wanting to scream at the MCs frequently! I have to know whats next! So heres to diving into book 3! Also, The MMC is a perfect book boyfriend!

This Fantasy Romance is a thrilling read that will have you turning each page needing more. This is book 2 in the Blood Of A Fae Series.
The Romance in this book is a slow burn where the characters are trying to deny a desire for one another, and/or resisting it. There is some miscommunication trope happening in this book that tends to add to the tension, to help keep the burn slow.
This book has some spice. There isn’t a ton of spice, and the scenes arent super long or even overly descriptive. The spicy scenes definitely are not fade to black either.
The book moves at a steady pace until it picks up quickly about 3/4 way through the book. The book follows the MCs as they find safety, and purpose in the MMCs court. He has his own adversities to overcome as well as her. There is romance, action, angst, and heart felt moments along the way.
The characters completely win you over. You get introduced to new characters, and their back stories. You also get to know the MCs better, and you can’t help but fall in love with them. Their fabulous banter continues on from book 1, adding in some romantic tension.
The world building continues to be complex. The author continues to build, and intensify the story as this book goes on. You will get to know a whole new side of the fae, as well as getting glimpses into a forgotten past. This fae court has a more ruthless set of mind, and the author does a beautiful job cementing that into the story.

This being a review for book two, there are unavoidable book one spoilers ahead!

I LOVED the turn Court of Claws took! This series has definitely kept it going and kept me guessing. Waking up in the court of the Siabra, Morgan is devastated. She’s lost so much, and the path in front of her is dark. Draven is a solid presence at her side, and their banter and tension is top tier. I loved how they’re both tested in every way and when secrets come out, everything is at stake. You’ll love to hate the court politics and be on the edge of your seat! This was a great second book, and ended on a cliffhanger!

Book 2 picked up where book one left off and I was surprised at home much I liked it better than book 1. Often times the follow up book leaves readers wanting more, but this one was so good. I can’t wait for the rest of the series. ❤️

The second installment was just as good as the first. If not better honestly. We finally learn more about Draven and what exactly was happening with his character. We get some spicy scenes and we definitely see a lot of character growth from Morgan. I really love this duo. This has fast become a comfort read for me. The romance is there, the banter is there, the sass, the strong fmc, and the heroic mmc. All of it truly makes me happy. Even the side characters have amazing banter and wit.

I am always more than happy to choke on my words when saying nothing will come close to the fantastical world of that one series we all know. Briar has done her thing! Per usual Briar fashion I might add! When I tell you this series has a grip on me, I am LOSING SLEEP! The whole idea of reading is to be transported away from real mundane life, right? Okay, so this is it! Please don't ever stop!! The people need you to keep writing!!! Ive become very obsessive of this series and literally as soon as I see someone reading-anywhere!- I am like. "hey! you need this series in your life!" lol

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Such a good follow up to the first book! I loved getting to see more of the fae world and politics through the lens of the Siabra court! 🐍 In this book readers are brought further into the world as they start to uncover more secrets about the fae and Morgan and Draven themselves. Of course the Court of Claws isn't without its dangers ⚔️. Morgan faces threats from every angle as she tries to come to terms with her newfound knowledge and reckon with her place in not just Siabra and the fae but the world itself.

Readers can also look forward to more steamy moments between Morgan and Draven as they grow closer together 💖🌶️

Thank you to Netgalley, Starwater Press, and Briar Boleyn for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! 🥰

4.5✨

I really enjoyed this novel. I think it is a step up from book one. I liked how it really expanded on the magic system and the world and its politics with a sprinkle of hunger games. I really like how the love in this story is a true slow burn and they are still working out their issues; it is more believable. I also really enjoyed how we got more interactions with the court. Having strong side characters always enhances the story. I love all of the characters and how they are all so different from each other.

I am excited for book three and I think I will be buying the series in physical copies. I am surprised that not that many people are talking about this series. It is a hidden gem. I look forward to telling my friends about it. There is a lot of potential brewing and I am excited to see where the story goes and how it develops.

I loved picking up with this story and feeling like I was really in the world. This was a really good book.