I had high hopes for this book and really wanted to love it, but something about the story just didn’t resonate with me. While the writing was solid and the plot had potential, it ultimately wasn’t the right fit for me. That said, I believe others might connect with it in ways I didn’t, and it’s certainly not a reflection on the author’s talent.

#BloodofaFaeSeries #NetGalley

I DNF'd this book. I like the premise, but I did not care for the writing style. I read for three chapters but couldn't continue. It is purely a matter of taste.

"Queen of Roses" by Briar Boleyn is a stunning, immersive read that blends breathtaking fantasy with poignant themes of identity and belonging. From the very first page, I was captivated by Morgan Pendragon’s journey of self-discovery as she navigates a world fraught with danger, temptation, and recurring shadows from her past.

Morgan is a compelling protagonist, expertly crafted with a rich inner life and a fierce spirit. Born into a life of duty yet yearning for freedom, her quest to reclaim her destiny is both thrilling and relatable. The dramatic tension between her obligations and her desires beautifully illustrates the struggles many individuals face in defining themselves outside societal expectations. As she embarks on a dangerous mission to find a legendary fae weapon, Morgan's character evolves in ways that are both profound and empowering.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of this journey is the intriguing cast of side characters that Morgan encounters. The band of outcasts she joins brings depth and vibrancy to the narrative, each contributing unique strengths and vulnerabilities. Among them is the dark, enigmatic warrior who stirs something deep within Morgan, adding an intoxicating layer of romance and tension that pulses through the storyline.

Briar Boleyn's world-building is exquisite, allowing readers to revel in the lush landscapes and rich lore of the fae kingdom—a realm teeming with secrets and peril. The stakes escalate as Morgan uncovers the dark truths about her heritage, and the foreshadowing of a power struggle that threatens to engulf the kingdom is both nail-biting and engaging. The author crafts an intricate web of lies and mysteries that keeps readers guessing, making "Queen of Roses" a truly page-turning experience.

With sharp, evocative prose, Boleyn does an amazing job of blending heart-pounding action with deeply emotional moments. The themes of sacrifice, love, and the quest for self-acceptance resonate throughout the novel, making it a beautifully layered story that leaves a lasting impact.

In conclusion, "Queen of Roses" is a captivating fantasy adventure that explores the complexities of love, loyalty, and the fight to reclaim one’s destiny. Briar Boleyn has crafted a tale that is rich with emotion and excitement, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to fans of fantasy and romance.

I am incredibly grateful to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this outstanding arc; as I closed the book, I found myself yearning for more of Morgan’s journey—an indication of just how spellbinding this tale truly is!

DNF at 30%. This really didn’t hold my attention unfortunately. I felt the story wasn’t overly unique and original and so it wasn’t really motivating me to read it.

I enjoyed this book a lot with the strong characters and the inspiration from King Arthur. I was yelling at my kindle when some characters entered on the page. Those yells were fueled from anger at the character and also excitement. Excited to read the next!

I had to DNF Queen of Roses because, unfortunately, the content was too much for me to handle. While I appreciated the writing style and world-building, certain themes and scenes crossed a line that made me uncomfortable. It's a shame, as I was hoping to enjoy this book, but sometimes it's best to step away when a story doesn't align with your personal boundaries. If you're sensitive to heavy or explicit content, you might want to approach this one with caution.

I was so excited when I saw this one was a King Arthur imagining. I am a sucker for anything King Arthur. This is the first book in the series and there was a lot of world building as well as character introductions but I am interested enough to continue on.

I quite liked this one. The characters, especially the FMC were relatable and interesting. The plot was quite intriguing, and while it fell short in some places which made it feel like the book was dragging a bit, and becoming quite predictable the last 80-100 pages had my jaw dropping. The setting was immersive enough, not the best but still decent for a fantasy.
I would recommend this to my friends, but it wouldn't be one of the first.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. So much that I purchased the paperbacks of books 1-3 before I'd even finished it. There is lots of world-building as it’s the first in a series, but it was super engaging with a really interesting lore.

If you're looking for a good chosen-one fae fantasy series with intriguing mystical creatures and quests, you should dive into this. The book has some queer rep, and slightly delves into homophobia, and there are a few possible triggers so please check the list if you're concerned.

Overall, I'm left with so many questions and cannot wait to get stuck into the rest of the series!

Rating: 4.5 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
Spice Level: 🌶️
Trope:
- King Arthur Retelling
- Fae Romance
- Magic
- Morally Grey MMC
- World Building
- Bodyguard x Princess

This is a King Arthur retelling. My experience with King Arthur lore is quite limited—I’ve only read The School of Good and Evil, where the main male character is the son of King Arthur, and I’ve seen the movie adaptation starring Charlie Hunnam. So, my knowledge of King Arthur is pretty minimal 😅😅

The book is very story-driven, with a slow but consistent pace that remains steady until the end 🤣. It’s not bad, though, because the world-building is great, and the plot is solid. I really enjoyed the story, and I love the male main character—he’s a bodyguard assassin who reminds me of Hawke from FBAA.

I jumped straight into book two after finishing this one because it ends on a cliffhanger. I’m excited to see what happens next because I have a feeling Draven will become my new book boyfriend.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing this e-ARC.

I liked this one, but the start was a bit slow. Also if you want spice in it, this may not be youre case. Loved Arthurian legends style and plot was interesting.

Thank you netgalley and starwater press for the gifted arc.

Dnf 25%

Unfortunately, this is a dnf for me. I really loved the idea of this story and I think it has great bones. The execution just wasn’t for me. I found the writing to be choppy and had a hard time envisioning the scenes. I don’t find myself invested in the story or the characters.

I might to read this again another day, but for now it’s a dnf.

"Fate will tell. Fate tells all."

Queen of Roses - Briar Boleyn
Pub date: Apr 15, 2023
★★★★☆

(Thank you to Netgalley for the free copy in exhange for an honest review!)

Morgan Pendragon never felt belong, neither in her family or in the kingdom hierarchy, even when she titled as a princess only because she's a part-fae. She was stripped from the sucessor line and basically got banished by forced to be presented to the temple. When she tought it was the end of her little freedom, Morgan was given task to fetch some mythical powerful weapon. Alongside her, a mysterious yet dangerous guard known as Kairos Davern was sent to escort her on the mission.

I sure have many things to say about this book. First of all, i would categorized this one in the middle to high stakes side if fantasy genre considering how complex the world bulding is and how it's heavy with political intrigue. Plot wise there's a lot of layers in the story and they never failed to get me surprised as the story went through. I love the world building, the back story of Morgan and how much she suffers, the dynamic between her and Kairos (bodyguard x princess dynamic in all we trust), and my personal favorite part of course the whole adventure to Valtain to fetch the sword. There's grim, humor, spark and spice in well-balanced amount resulting a pleasant and enjoyable journey. Even until the end, Queen of Roses still left us reader with unanswered question and untold tale, succesfully keeping me excited to continue the story. Gotta grab the sequel fast!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 🌶️ 🌶️

A dark, retelling of King Arthur and Camelot, but with faes? Yes, please! You’ve never read they quest for Excalibur like this before! It was familiar, but new and exciting.

Morgan is on a quest for her father, King Arthur, and her half-brothers. She starts out a bit naïve, but her character development throughout the book is amazing and I can’t wait how she continues to grow throughout the series.

One things I wasn’t prepared for, but am here for, is how much I disliked the king! Walking in assuming he would be the loveable King Arthur like always, was my bad though. It’s a retelling, I should have known better. Kaye is super sweet and I hope to see him grow throughout the series as well.

We also meet Draven and Vesper. You can feel the tension between Draven and Morgan during their interactions. I am very curious to see what will grow between these two!! But Vesper seems to get in the middle of them. What Vesper ends up being is… wow!

The twists and turns that happen in this book kept me intrigued, on the edge of my seat, and up way to late (but very much worth it). Briar gives us a retelling that I am here for! I will say this… I am glad I started reading it when the whole series is already out. The cliffhanger on this book, immediately had me starting Book 2.

As always review trigger warnings before reading.

Tropes:
🌹 Slow-burn romance
🌹 Enemies to lovers
🌹 Morally gray MMC
🌹 World Building
🌹 Epic Quest
🌹 Found family
🌹 "Who did this to you?" With a hint of Touch her and ☠️

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Themes/Genre: Retelling, Arthurian Fantasy, Dark Camelot, Forced Proximity, fae, fairytale, Dark Fantasy, Forbidden Love
Author: Briar Boeyn
Book Publication date: April 15, 2023
Page Count: 361
Book Cover first thoughts: I do love the cover, it drew me in

Book #1 of 4 Series

Review / Summary:
This started out slow, a lot of world building. I honestly stopped reading and picked up something else because I got bored but I came back because I really want to read the other books in this series. I know world building takes time and is common in some series fantasy books.

However, the story does pick up halfway through and I did start to enjoy it. I am excited to get to the next set in the series. I already have it downloaded on my Kindle :)

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Thank you to NetGalley and Starwater Press for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of #QueenofRoses
All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date was April 15, 2023. This review is being shared on NetGalley and Goodreads
#BloodofaFaeSeries #NetGalley

This Arthurian retelling with a fae twist was an unexpectedly good read! The book offers fresh takes on classic characters, like an evil King Arthur and female versions of Lancelot and Merlin. I appreciated the LGBTQ+ representation through Lancelet and Galahad, and the pronunciation guide was a thoughtful addition. The female lead is strong and relatable, dealing with insecurities authentically and gradually going through her own arc on a begrudging hero, while the male lead, Kairos Draven, exudes protective "touch her and die" vibes that kept me hooked. The dialogue, particularly between Morgan and Draven, was sharp, and the world-building was smooth and engaging. If you enjoyed "From Blood and Ash," you'll likely love this book for its similar tropes and atmosphere. Highly recommended for fans of Arthurian legend, fae, and slow-burn romance.

To be honest, this book took me a while to get into, but that ending, that ending kept me wanting more talk about a twist! If you’re a fan of Arthurian retellings, adventures, morally gray characters and fae this is the story for you. In the Queen of Roses, we follow Morgan Pendragon who is half fae/half human who has been tasked with retrieving Excalibur for her brother King Arthur. She is accompanied on this journey by Kairos Draven who is sarcastic, mysterious, and on a mission of his own devices. Throughout the book we have a slooooow burn and development and it makes me that much more invested and thankful that the next book of the series is already available!

This isn’t your run of the mill King Arthur and Camelot retailing. You have fae and spice and I promise you it is worth the read! Thank you, Net Galley and Briar, for the ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

**Thank you so much, NetGalley, for the ARC**

It took me a moment to really get into this novel, but I am glad I stuck it out!

Our main character, Morgan, is a half-fae Princess that belongs to a kingdom with an extremely stern ruler. These lines of rulers have determined her fate, and she is ready to break free from those weighty chains and craft her own destiny.

This whole novel is about finding oneself, defying expectations, and growing to trust in one’s own intuitions and strength.

There are enough twist, turns, and burning questions to keep you entertained and wanting to read more!

Slow to start. World building was handled really well. Love the dynamic between the main characters. Definitely reading the next in the series. This was a decent book kick off a series. Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was definitely something. An easy read and lots of world building. I felt like Morgan had so many trials thrown at her in this book and honestly kept me on my toes. I really wanted to slay all the people who did Morgan so wrong and can’t wait to see her comeback!