I was lucky to get this as a free ebook (the whole set actually) from Netgalley, and boy, am I thrilled I did! It's a richly immersive fantasy tale with a slow-burning plot, blending Arthurian legend with a fae twist. Our protagonist, Morgan, is Arthur's half-sister and part fae, while Arthur himself is portrayed as a rather unpleasant character. He dispatches Morgan on a quest to find Excalibur, accompanied by Draven, a member of the King's guard. However, Morgan soon begins to suspect that Draven might have hidden motives. As their journey progresses, Morgan and Draven grow closer, only to have their burgeoning relationship complicated by the arrival of Vesper. The dynamic between the characters is electrifying, filled with banter, tension, and just the right amount of romantic chemistry to keep readers hooked. The twists are SO unexpected. I'm currently devouring the sequel and can attest that the story only gets better from here. This gem of a fantasy romance deserves more recognition, and I sincerely hope it finds a wider audience!

Born into a life of duty and sacrifice, Morgan Pendragon’s destiny has never been her own. Rumored to carry the tainted blood of the fae in her veins, her birthright is stolen from her when she is a mere child. Growing up in the shadow of her brother the king, she has been promised to the goddesses when she comes of age. So, when her brother commands that she seek out a fae weapon of legendary power, Morgan seizes the chance to break free from the chains of her fate.

This is the first book in a four-part series inspired by Arthurian legends. It is not a retelling however, as the plot differs considerably. Briar Boleyn draws from the stories of King Arthur but put a completely different twist on them, including gender-swapping some of the characters.

I found the book a little slow to start, but the pace picked up towards the end and I am very much looking forward to reading the other books in this series!

Thank you to Netgalley and Starwater Press for providing me with a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review:
⅘ Stars

Firstly, I would love to thank the author, Briar Boleyn, NetGalley, and the publishers for this book and the opportunity to read this beauty.

I loved the world-building in this book. It is a slow-burn book, but once you give it a bit of time, you do get sucked into it quickly.

If you love a book with immersive worldbuilding, captivating characters and a storyline that keeps you hooked, I would 100% recommend this book. It's the perfect mix of romance and fantasy, with beautiful writing that makes reading a breeze. 3

When picking up this book, just remember that it is part of a developing series, and right at the end, you will be left with so many unanswered questions that you’ll be begging for the next one.

I will pick up the next book in the series when it comes out, and I cannot wait to dive into it.

Firstly, thank you to the author and her team for sending me an arc of this book to read. It was SO GOOD. ❤️

*I would recommend checking the triggers if you want to read this book. There are some dark themes in the beginning of this book that some might find triggering.*

With that said - if you want an immersive dark fantasy retelling of Camelot then I would highly recommend this book!
This book has quests, fae, folklore, mythology, a rag tag group of characters with a morally gray MMC, and fantastic world building with notes of romance.
This book follows Morgan our FMC who is the princess of Camelot and also part fae. She is sent on a quest by her human brother (that you will love to hate by the way) to retrieve Excalibur from the abandoned fae city because for reasons unknown she is the only one who can get it but she has to go with our MMC Kairos.
I absolutely loved Morgan in this book. She has quite the tragic backstory but chooses to still fight for herself and her kingdom.
I also loved our dark and broody MMC Kairos because he is always our voice of reason even if he’s grumpy most of the time.
This first book left off on such a big cliffhanger that has me with more questions than answers and I cannot wait to dive into the 2nd book. ❤️

By the Three, I don’t even know where to begin! This book HOOKED me from the beginning! The story was very easy to digest and left me turning pages as fast as I could. The way the author told the story had me fully immersed. Typically I would like to see romance sooner, but the slow burn, enemies to lovers, in this book was PERFECTION! When we met her brother, Arthur, who is now king of Camelot I wondered if this was a King Arthur retelling and by the end it definitely seemed so, but I loved the twist on it with Morgan being Fae and all of the other mythical creatures and beings intertwined in the story. Some parts of the story may have seemed drawn out and unnecessary, but when you get towards the end and pieces of the puzzle start to click you realize it was all very important and necessary.

I finished this and immediately downloaded the next book! That cliffhanger was INTENSE and I cannot wait to see where the rest of the story leads!

This is one wild ride of a book.

It starts off slow, a lot of world building, but once it gets going, hold on.

Morgan really goes through the ringer throughout the whole book, honestly, I am surprised how well put together she is all things considering.

I felt that the writing was easy to read, easy to follow, and then it keeps you wondering what more can really happen for Morgan.

Excited to jump into the next book.

Thank you NetGalley and Starwater Press publishing for my DRC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Briar Boleyn for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review!

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Wow, I was really blown away with this! I was hooked from the very beginning. The world building was done beautifully and loved the characters. Had a really fun time.

"Queen of Roses" by Briar Boleyn is a spellbinding tale that seamlessly blends elements of fantasy and romance into a captivating narrative. Set in a richly imagined world filled with magic, intrigue, and danger, Boleyn weaves a story that will transport readers to another realm and leave them utterly entranced.

At the heart of the novel is the character of Elara, a young woman thrust into a world of courtly politics and dark secrets when she unexpectedly becomes the Queen of Roses. As Elara navigates the treacherous waters of the royal court, she must also grapple with her growing attraction to the enigmatic Prince Rowan, whose motives may not be as pure as they seem.

One of the most compelling aspects of "Queen of Roses" is Boleyn's masterful world-building. From the lush gardens of the palace to the forbidden forests teeming with mythical creatures, every aspect of the world feels vivid and immersive, drawing readers deeper into the story with each turn of the page.

Boleyn's prose is lyrical and evocative, painting a vivid picture of the world and its inhabitants. The dialogue crackles with wit and tension, bringing the characters to life and adding depth to their relationships.

The romance between Elara and Rowan is beautifully developed, simmering with tension and longing from their first encounter. Boleyn expertly crafts their relationship, allowing it to unfold organically amidst the backdrop of political intrigue and danger.

In addition to its engaging plot and well-drawn characters, "Queen of Roses" also explores deeper themes of power, loyalty, and the nature of true love. Through Elara's journey, Boleyn examines the sacrifices we make for those we care about and the strength it takes to stand up for what is right in the face of adversity.

Overall, "Queen of Roses" is a must-read for fans of fantasy and romance alike. Briar Boleyn has created a rich and immersive world populated by compelling characters and filled with intrigue and romance. Prepare to be swept away by this enchanting tale from beginning to end.

What a wonderful read this was! It had me hooked from the beginning. A Camelot/King Arthur retelling that I didn't even know I needed! The world-building and character development are amazing, and the story was nothing like what I was expecting. It's a very slow-burn romance, but I loved the interaction between Morgan and Draven, and the cliffhanger at the end left me wanting more! I can't wait to devour book 2.

Thank you to NetGally and Starwater Press for proving a digital copy of Queen of Roses (Blood of a Fae Saga) by Briar Boleyn in exchange for an honest review.

Firstly, please check your trigger warnings, there are many topics that some readers may have difficulty with. I was pleasantly surprised with this first installment of the Blood of a Fae series which I typically find to be a little underwhelming but this one was an outlier. Boleyn did a fantastic job creating a world that I felt sucked into and couldn’t put down. The last dozen or so pages left me with so many questions and extremely eager to jump into book 2.

I received this arc in exchange for honest review..

This book started out kind of slow, but it had an intriguing plot to it. The more I read the more it picked up. The main character fell a little flat for me but I feel like there’s a redemption coming. The ending totally shocked me and tied it all together nicely. Excited to read the next one in this series.

Born a princess, Morgan's life has not been idyllic. Her mother died when she was young and was supposedly part fae. Her younger brother bypassed her to become King and she is expecting to devote her life to the temple. However her brother had other plans and send her on a journey to the former fae lands to try to retrieve a fae weapon.

This book has references to the tale of King Arthur and Excalibur. Personally, I am not that familiar with the smaller details of that story but those that are may not like the liberties taken for this retelling. As the first book in a series, this story starts off rather slowly, however that is sometimes needed to establish the characters and plot. I was frustrated by the FMC and I hope she has some character growth throughout the series.
The ending cliffhanger was spot on and definitely made me want to continue the series.

Thank you to net galley and Starwater press for access to this book for my honest review.

Look for my review on Goodreads and Instagram @booklover_tara

4 ⭐️

Overall I enjoyed this book. It started out a little slow before Morgan set out on her journey. It really picked up after that. I am hoping there’s more to Draven and Morgan’s story because I enjoy them together and had reservations about Vesper (for good reasons). Also I hope Arthur gets what he deserves. The ending has me a little puzzled but also makes me excited to continue the story as I have so many unanswered questions.

Thank you to NetGalley and starwater press for this arc!

Review has been shared on goodreads.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63342028

fae meet King Arthur/Camelot tales! this was an interesting read to say the least, there was so many minor details that hinted towards that ending which were so well woven into the story! the story was enticing, there was so much at stake and so much built up, it kept me on the edge of my seat! the ‘love triangle’ feeling to it was a bit meh, glad that was cleared up because she moved very quickly with everything in her life once she left camelot! as for morgans character, I liked her, at times she gave a bit of ‘I’m not like other girls’ vibes but despite that she was a good character with a lot of depth and personality too her! and for draven, I loved him a lot, I’m glad his mystery to his character stayed the same and we didn’t get his povs, seeing him only through morgans eyes gave that mysterious vibe, but we could see his caring side despite the grumpiness! overall, a good first book to this series that kept me hooked!

Thank you to NetGalley and Star Water Press for a copy of this book in exchange for a review!

This is a dark fantasy that loosely follows Morgan Pendragon (Legends of Arthur) a short time after the death of her father, the king, and the beginning of Arthur's, her half-brother's, rule over the kingdom. Morgan is, unfortunately, used to being ill-treated, discriminated against, and abused by the hands of her father. Although part fae, she is believed to be untrustworthy and contemptible. In short, her life is not her own. As she tries to lend her assistance to a local hunting party for securing food resources, Arthur becomes more tyrannical and ruthless in his rule. There is discontent and starvation ravaging the kingdom as Arthur funnels resources to prepare for war. With that threat looming on the horizon, Arthur tasks Morgan to find a sword that might help to shift the tide. If she is successful, she has some choice: marriage or joining the priestess. Lose and her life hangs in the balance.

For readers new to fantasy this is an easy foray into fantasy reading as there is world building, but it is not overly complicated. I always appreciate the inclusion of magical creatures in story lines, especially if they become a character in the story with their own personalities. There is also a list of trigger warnings at the end of the book so that readers can preview the themes explored.

I found this story quite fast-paced, especially after Morgan is tasked with her mission and while there is that storyline, at the heart of the book is also a tale of a young woman who longs to know who she is and what she wants. Although she loves her younger brother and even Arthur, she has gone through some serious trauma - witnessing her father murder her mother and has been the victim of violence herself. She's capable of love but struggles to see her own self-worth and strength. The life she has lived has been one that has been forced upon her due to the privilege of others. As such, Morgan has a hard time taking compliments and addressing harm done to herself by others, as she fears the repercussions. It's challenging to see the good in others when people use you for their own motivations.

This was an enjoyable read that has set down a solid foundation for what is probably to come in the next books. The mission to get the sword really had a Lord of the Rings feel as a menagerie of potential friends along the way band together against enemies and creatures along the way. If you are a fan of romance - this is a really slow burn, especially when the love interest respects and speaks up for Morgan.

A solid 4 stars.

The book definitely started off slow, Morgan frustrated me so much with her naiveness and lacking any kind of knowledge of life. I was pretty close to just giving up, but I was happy that it picked up a bit past the middle of the book. The author gave some good fighting scenes and some suspenseful parts. The spicy scenes were 3/5

i DNF’d at 45% unfortunately.

This is book 1 of a new romantasy series that is a loose retelling of King Arthur. This book is marketed as a Fae enemies to lovers with sizzling tension, banter, and a slow burn romance

•The pros: it started off very strong! Unique take for a King Arthur retelling. Diverse characters & LGBT+ rep.

•The cons: In my opinion, this needed a lot of editing. The inner monologue of the FMC had too much back & forth (she would ask herself a question and answer it in the same sentence… repeatedly). I also did not connect with the characters & the plot was a bit underdeveloped for me.

This is a wonderful new re telling of a well known story. We start in Camelot with Morgan as the oldest child of the king, learn about her life and the one of her half brother Arthur as well as her youngest brother. New is that in this version Merlin is a woman as well as Lencelet. But these are not the only changes. In this version Arthur is not a nice ruler, no here we see his dark side and Morgan who is usually the bad one shows us a different side to her story.
Normally the throne would be hers as the first born but her father took this right from her and decided that she has to become a priestess as she is supposed to be not human but half fae. Despite all of this she loves both her brothers and tried to protect Arthur from the brutal beating of their father, still sees good in him and hopes that he is a fair ruler. When Arthur sends her on a quest to fetch a weapon which is supposed to be of great power she has now way to decline it as she is fearing of the safety of her youngest brother. Together with two guards she is supposed to go on this risky journey. As these men were picked by her brother can she trust them to keep her save or do they have other orders?

If you want to find a new way an old and well know story is told you should check this book,
I really enjoyed it and was impressed how good the author is using a story well known to give it a completely new twist, show us different sides of characters well known and is creating a thrilling storyline here. I like the twist with fae and other creatures we have in this setting.
Right from the start I really felt with Morgan what she had to endure so far in her live and despite all of this what a wonderful person she is and what she is willing to do to protect people she likes.
The story gets an interesting new twist now that Merlin is not close to Arthur and Morgan is part Fae but shall now show this and was raised to fear this part of herself.
In this version you don't know the characters any longer hence you have to learn whom to trust. This I really enjoyed. Also the quest is very well written and there are twists I didn't see coming. So I really enjoyed this first book of this series and for sure I will also keep reading.

An Arthurian inspired story, but make it romantasy! It was so easy to be swept up into this world and I found myself finishing this book in no time at all.

The world building and magical system were easy to consume, however at times it became quite heavy with the lore which had a lot of information to remember.

The plot was full of adventure with a good slice of action, trauma, betrayals and self-discovery. I really enjoyed that I couldn’t predict the plot and I love the unexpected in stories!

The characters were well developed and experience a myriad of ordeals and developments throughout the book. I really enjoyed Morgan’s character, whilst at times I was frustrated with her naivety, I found her actions and emotions to be very real. With the main male characters, I really did not see the plot unfolding the way it did and I found myself constantly seeking the intention of the males, were they good/bad?

Once the story got rolling it really amped up with adventure and this was my favourite part. I’m looking forward to diving into book 2!

4.5⭐️

BOOK: QUEEN OF THE ROSES
AUTHOR: BRIAR BOLEYN
SERIES: BLOOD OF A FAE, BOOK ONE
PUBLISHER: STARWATER PRESS
LENGTH: 361 PAGES
OVERALL RATING: 5/5 STARS
BLOG RATING: 5/5 SALTIRE FLAGS

Magnificent fantasy novel based on King Arthur and his knights at Camelot this is romantic fantasy. Fans of Sarah J. Maas will get swept away in this fabulous series like I did. It has a lot of the same names like in the Arthurian tales but this story is completely different. As Morgan is the Princess of Camelot who might have some fae heritage as well. It shows she doesn't trust King Arthur who seems to have some wicked intentions brewing. Furthermore Morgan travels a road that might change her destiny forever.

As this book is about Morgan’s pursuit to discover an ancient relic and on this journey she finds herself in a fast paced adventure, filled with magic, darkness, danger, suspense, deception, and treachery and so much more.

Arthur is a self centered egotistical King who hates fae and the older he gets the more insane he becomes. This is an action packed, page turner that is a great start to a new series that readers will absolutely love! It had me gasping for air not knowing what would happen next! It definitely whets your appetite, making me look forward to reading book two in this marvelous adventure!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy and an advance reader from the publisher. I voluntarily agreed to do a fair review and blog through netgalley. All thoughts, ideas and words are my own.