I had a hard time with this one because I don't do well with perpetual misery. I also strongly dislike it when the MC is dumb.

The first half of the book is just Morgan having a shitty time and being treated shittily. It got old fast. Arthur is essentially Joffrey. I wanted to do a lot of stabbing. I was scowling as I read.

What added to the scowling is that Morgan trains with the knights, is meant to be relatively skilled/strong, and yet she's a complete wet blanket who just lets everyone shit all over her.

The slow burn romance could have been good if Morgan wasn't incredibly stupid about Draven. Sure, he has bumped into her and been rude to her, but the list of things he has done for her/to protect her is much longer than his list of sins. She assumes the worst of him always, and stupidly. Like, there's a point where Draven is trying to keep her alive, trying to stop a POS from forcing her to drink what is essentially poison, but because he also happens to mention that she can't complete her mission if she's dead, she clings to this fact and ruminates over it like a dipshit, dismissing any positive actions outright. Yet, when Vesper comes into the picture, she doesn't for a second question anything about him or his actions/motivations.

There are also a fair bit of errors. This is an ARC but it isn't a new release. I assume this version was meant to have been edited. There's a point where Morgan says that her mother drank the same medicine as her, every second night as she also does. Then later on in the book, she "let out a small cry of surprise" when she's told that her mother took the same medicine. Several times, I came across tense changes that were jarring (have when it should have been had, is when it should have been was, etc) and should have been caught on a first pass edit.

The writing was otherwise not bad. There is a lot of potential here. I'm not putting this author on the shit list.

Still, I'm glad I only requested the first one, though there were I think 3 available on netgalley, because I really have no desire to continue reading this series.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for a review.

Wow. Where to begin…..if you are a fan of Sarah J Maas or Jennifer L Armentrout, you should absolutely check this book out. From the first sentence you are grabbed and pulled in. The characters are likeable, the story moves along at a good pace & the world building is great. The first book did an excellent job pulling you in, and making you want to know what is really going on. There is plenty of action, and I want to hurry and finish my review so that I can go start the second book……the cliffhanger at the end was great.

There are lots of moving parts with this one, and I enjoy the fact there is plenty of action- but there is also political intrigue, slow burn romance and interesting characters. Without giving away plot points, I will say that all characters are actually in jeopardy when events happen, which I appreciate.

I also appreciated that there are trigger warnings for the book, but they are included at the end. If you have triggers, there is a link at the beginning that will take you to them so that you can make an informed decision. However, if you don’t have any triggers, you don’t have any idea what is coming, which is great. I know these warnings are important for some readers’ mental health, but sometimes they give things away and allowing people the freedom to choose while still being respectful was nice.

This book was a great read, and I cannot wait to see where the story goes. It is absolutely worth the read. :)

Thank you Briar Boleyn and NetGalley for allowing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

King Arthur, Merlin, Camelot... those names may sound familiar but there is nothing old-fashioned about this amazing story written by Briar Boleyn. The story is loosely based on a retelling of Camelot, but is full of witty banter, political intrigue and tension, magic and of course just the right amount of slow burn romance to keep you wanting more. Oh, and that ending! Make sure you schedule some free time to snag book two right away. You are going to need it immediately after finishing book one. If you are a fan of A Court of Thorns and Roses or Fourth Wing, I would highly recommend this book. It's book one of a four-part series, and luckily for you, the fourth was just released!

THANK YOU NetGalley and Victory Editing for sending me not only this copy of Queen of Roses but the entire Blood of Fae series for review.

Queen of Roses is a dark fantasy romance that loosely follows Arthurian mythology, but with a Fae twist. This story is filled with great banter, undeniable tension, otherworldly magic, mythical creatures, and of course, a little romance. This story features love, betrayal, action, adventure, and some insane plot twists.

Being the first book in the series, there was a lot of world-building, character introduction, and setup for the series. The detail is great but can make some parts of the story a little slower to get through. By the end, things were HAPPENING, and that made it all worth it.

I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series to see where we go from here. If it hadn't been 2 AM when I hit that cliffhanger of an ending, I would have started the second book immediately.

If you're a fan of the Maasverse, the Legendborne series, or romantasy in general, give it a chance.

My review has been posted to:
- Goodreads
- Amazon (under review)
- Fable.co

Thank you NetGalley, Briar Boleyn and Starwater for this ARC. Opinions are my own.

Blurb: A doomed love, a dangerous mission, and a kingdom on the brink of war...
A cast-off princess…

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 a very loose King Arthur/Camelot story with fae characters and magic; told from the perspective of Morgan Pendragon, Arthur's sister. Everything you think you know of Arthurian legend is basically turned on its head from gender swaps to morality swaps. I'll leave it at that in the interest of preventing spoilers.

The Good:
I loved the Camelot retelling. I think it was a large undertaking of Ms. Boleyn to turn this story into something so unique and completely make it her own.

Morgan was a somewhat quiet mannered princess who saw her mother die at a very young age. She is shunned by the court because her mother was half-fae which means Morgan is potentially fae. She has about a year before she will be apprenticed to Merlin, the head priestess at the temple. I loved Morgan's dedication and loyalty to her brothers, Arthur and Kaye. She has a sense of duty to her people, even though she was usurped, that speaks to her caring and empathetic nature. All things considered, I did like her as a FMC.
She is also loyal to her friends Lancelet and Galahad who basically make up the majority of those that care for her and her best intentions.

The world building is excellent. The author takes time to draw a picture of Camelot, the temple, and further along, the settings the characters get in to which really draws the reader in and immerses them in the story.

The Not-So-Good
This is a very, VERY slow-burn romance. Many descriptors state this is for fans of ACOTAR and FBAA however, I found very little that was similar other than the fae. There also wasn't a lot of chemistry between Morgan and her MMC, Kairos Draven. As a MMC, he was very one-dimensional and not fleshed out enough to make the reader root for him as an individual or even Morgan and him as a couple.
Morgan also had her moments that annoyed me. This is a princess that has been sheltered and hid away yet she still would argue with Kairos even though he was the "expert" in many of the situations they found themselves in.
As said before, there was very little development between Morgan and Kairos. Aside from her musings once or twice about how hot Kairos was, there was little to determine the two would ever hook up. I was even questioning who her romantic lead was. Which leads me to a side character Morgan starts lusting after. This guy shows up out of nowhere, gives her a little bit of attention and within a few days, she's thinking she has feelings for him. With a fantasy, obviously you need to suspend disbelief to a point but this made me cringe. Especially when you know how that plot point is going to turn out.
Speaking of plot points, for fans of fantasy romance, or "romantasy," the story got very predictable. You know who is going to enact the big betrayal, you know who is going to turn out to be a wolf in sheep's clothing and there were a couple other points I called before they happened.

With all this said, I LIKED the overall story and I'm going to read the next book, if for no other reason than I'm hoping Morgan really comes into herself and finds her inner badassery. I'm also holding out for a little more character development for both Morgan and Kairos, as well as their relationship.

High 3 stars!

"I swear if I hear those words cross his lips one more time I'm going to slap the man."

There is quite a number of men that you would like to slap in this book - and don't worry, that satisfaction comes plenty of times.

This was a really enjoyable fantasy retelling of King Arthur, filled with intrigue, fae, fantastical creatures and a whole lot of mystery. As someone who studied literary studies I was pulled in by all the King Arthur references and stayed for all the different interpretations and magical lore specific to this world.

🥀 Inspired by Arthurian legend (loved reading all the names as characters in this book)
🥀 Fae
🥀 Evil villains
🥀 Slow burn
🥀 Lots of secrets and betrayal
🥀 "Who did this to you?"

Our FMC Morgan is a little (okay, sometimes a lot) of naive and seems to have accepted a life that has little of a future, at least not one she chose for herself. Throughout the book this seems to shift a little bit as she slowly discovers more about herself which was great to see.

Kairos Draven increasingly became a more interesting character. I wasn't too convinced at the start, because his personality seemed quite flat (perhaps purposefully so) and his protective tendencies therefore didn't seem to make that much sense to me. However, as you get to know him a little more and the snarky remarks increased, I started to like his character a lot more (and I know for sure that there's a lot we don't know yet...). Other characters such as Galahad, Merlin, Lancelet and even Morgan's silly uncle, were all fun additions of which I'd only wish we'd seen more of - but luckily there's 4 more books.

The book isn't very romance-heavy in my opinion (although there are some hints...) and the romantic advances that were included moved a little bit too fast for my liking which meant that I didn't feel pulled in by it. (See my GR review for more of my opinion on this part, as it contains, or is hinted at, some spoielrs.)

And finally, that cliffhanger: <insert screaming gif here>

It's safe to say that I'm eager to start book 2 soon.

This book does handle some TW such as abuse, violence and death so make sure to take a look at the TW if this is not something you wish to read about. t can get quite dark, even from the start, which means there stakes are quite high which I appreciate.

This book started off really good. I was enjoying the plot and enjoying getting to know the characters. But about 40 percent through the storyline started to drag and it became difficult to keep interest. There was a lot of filler that didn't need to be there and things repeated multiple times as if the author thought the reader wouldn't remember.

Oh goodness, I must know what will happen next! I wanted a good fantasy series to sink my teeth into and I believe I may have found it in this series, we shall see.
This has a slight retelling of King Arthur and Camelot but with many, many twists on it, I’m so here for it. Morgan, the passed over princess lives in a world of deception, violence, and fear. Fear for herself, fear for her little brother Kaye, fear of her heritage, and fear for the people of Camelot. Her brother the King orders her away on a quest to obtain a powerful weapon, escorted only by two of his men, one of whom is Kairos Draven. Draven, a newly appointed royal guard and all around surly grump, has his own agenda but does seek to keep Morgan safe on their journey. Honestly I truly did like book one, which ends on a cliffhanger but book two is available so that’s my next read 😁. There is not a lot of romance or steam in book one but from what I gather this is a slow burn that will definitely pick up in steam/spice in the next books.

I went into this book expecting something quite different than what I received. The story quickly pulled me in and kept me interested. The villainous characters really made my blood boil, and that always has been a mark of a good writer to me. It’s one thing to write likable characters, but another thing completely to write truly hateful baddies.
There were some truly humerus moments as well, with the dialogue between Morgan and Draven making me laugh aloud multiple times.
I must say that I’m glad that the next book is available because that ending was a rather rude cliffhanger.

Thank you so much Victory Editing and NetGalley for the digital copy of this book.

God I ate this up in like 2 days. It’s like if From Blood and Ash had a Fae love child with a King Arthur retelling. I loved it.

The writing style was super easy to read, and it was pretty fast paced.
I liked the characters and I’m invested in what happens to them.
And the ending?!?
I’m so glad I rushed to put in my NetGalley request for the next 3 books because I need to know what happens next!

*I received this book for free to celebrate the release of the fourth book in the series, but all opinions are my own.*

WOW! I had high hopes for this series and let me tell you so far they have absolutely been met. I love the characters and the plot. It’s all so amazing. I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend this book.

I’m immediately starting the next book. I’d classify this as ending on a huge cliffhanger so make sure to be prepared for that (def have the second book waiting for you!!).

Just when you think you know, you definitely don’t. Such an amazing story I could not put down!

First half of the book was definitely world building and laying history. The second half was super fast-paced!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.5)
Spice: 🌶️ (0.5-1)

It's almost unbelievable that I've never come across "Queen of Roses" by Briar Boleyn before - the first book in the Blood of a Fae series. How could such a captivating and well-crafted fantasy novel have flown under my radar for so long?

The thing that really impressed me about "Queen of Roses" was Boleyn's writing. This author has such a way with words - the prose is so rich and immersive, but never in a way that feels heavy-handed or indulgent. The Prologue is short and intriguing, almost poetic. The world she's built is really intricate but easy to follow and it never slows the story down or makes you feel bogged in the details. I usually tend to avoid retellings but I must admit there wasn't a second in this book where I compared the story to its original inspiration. The plot is quite unique and the way the author took the tale of King Arthur to create a whole new story was really smart.

I also loved how diverse all the characters were. At the center of it all is our FMC Morgan - a heroine who defies the tired tropes of the "sassy brat" that so often plague female leads in fantasy. Morgan is strong and resilient, yes, but she's also deeply vulnerable in ways that make her incredibly relatable. She's clearly endured her fair share of trauma, but her perseverance and value-driven nature shine through, even when her future seems completely out of her control. She's a complex, multifaceted character that you can't help but root for. Next to her, we have the morally grey Draven, the innocent Kaye, the villainous Florian and Arthur, the confident and strong Lancelet, and the genuinely good-hearted Galahad. It's such a wonderfully varied group.

I was also pleasantly surprised by the slow-burn romance that emerges between Morgan and Draven. Too many fantasy romance novels these days rely on the insta-love trope, but Boleyn takes the time to build a genuine, believable connection that slowly develops. I did not expect that there would be any steam as Boleyn mentioned in her introduction that this is something to be seen in future books but I would still give it a tiny 1 on my spice level.

Overall, I am really, really satisfied with this book - what a beautiful and unexpected surprise. The book ends on a cliffhanger of sorts which created quite the suspense but thankfully the sequels are already out & downloaded!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. This review reflects my own and unbiased opinion.

This is my second reading of Queen of Roses as I knew the fourth part is coming soon and I wanted to revisit the books once again so that I would be able to enjoy the upcoming book.

I entered the world of Queen of roses thinking it is a retelling of Arthurian fantasy as the description says but I feel that description doesn't do justice to the book or better yet author has just used the names but I did not really find similar theme but just the names of the characters and maybe some old references like Excalibur. So yeah there are few similarities but I wouldn't consider this as Arthurian retelling. It just has totally different vibes.

But saying that does not make any difference to the overall book. The world building in this book is strong, characters although I wouldn't say well developed but they have been given enough time to feel for them. Female protagonist Morgan gets frustratingly annoying as the story proceeds. Her naivety about a lot of things is blinding. At points it feels that she is getting better at being a smart princess yet she disappoints very often. And yet one starts connecting with her.

The end twist was good. I had a nagging feeling since the introduction of the character Vesper that he is not who he is letting on so the reveal did not really shock me. But still the end sequence of action was really good which saved most of the book for me.

Overall definitely recommended. Now time to hop into second as the cliffhanger of this one was totally worth the attention.

Thank you netgalley and starwater press for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

Thank you for the ARC copy of this book. I was excited to read it! Unfortunately I have had to DNF at 40% which I am gutted I have to do. The plot and the premise were enjoyable and I can see what the author is going for. However, the descriptions of plot, worldbuilding, areas of the book were too much and I had issues with the characters.
The FMC wanted to present as a powerful one and some scene she did but in the next she would bend to the will of men and I found it really disappointing to read and confusing. I felt there was zero connection between the love interests and I did not particularly feel invested in them getting together.
I also feel there was no reason for the book to have such descriptive scenes without trigger warnings. One of the scene's felt like it came out of no where and was just brushed under the carpet.
Overall, I really wanted to like this book, the plot was interesting but the characters and the writing fell flat for me.

Ohh the tension, great slow burn romance!!

Fae story with a touch of everything I love such as magic, dark romance and shocking twists!!

Highly recommend

Book one in the series. I devoured this book and was hooked from the beginning. A King Arthur theme but Morgans story?! I was so excited to read this.

I loved the friendships and parts of her family. I was excited to see how the original story changed a little bit and the plot twist kept me on my toes.

I really loved the characters and their development throughout. I loved Morgan so much, she has been through so much and is determined to get through it and save the ones she loves. I was so happy to see how she caught for herself and grew in confidence.

Kairos I loved him from the moment we met him. I don’t want to say too much and ruin anything but I can not wait to see what more we learn about him in the next book.

I am always looking for a new fantasy series to disappear into and this one checked all the boxes. I can not wait to read the next book after that cliffhanger. 😩

- Enemies to Lovers
- Only one bed
- Touch her and ☠️
- Who did this to you
- Forced proximity
- Found family

You can watch my reviews at:

https://www.youtube.com/@EnchantedRoseBooks

I received an ARC provided by NetGalley.

This is a new to me Author and I believe this is their debut novel? I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I really enjoy a good dark fantasy romance (which I wouldn't necessarily say this is DARK but it does have some dark tones).

I don't want to spoil anything but I do want to say that the first part of this book (maybe 40-50%) had me coming out of the story a bit because I felt like there was just so much talking and not alot of showing going on. I know this was meant to be world building but it wasn't grabbing my full attention.

HOWEVER, the book took a turn and I was gripped, I couldn't stop devouring this book and by the end of it I was reaching for the 2nd book in this series. (THANK GOODNESS I received an ARC copy from Netgalley for all 4 books because I couldn't wait!).

If you love a fantasy romance that deals with the fae, an Arthurian retelling but loosely retold and spirals into SO MUCH MORE.

I can't wait to see where this story goes!

I recently was accepted ARC Briar Boleyn's Queen of Roses (and the entire Blood of Fae series) and I must say, I was thoroughly impressed. From start to finish, I was completely hooked on this captivating tale that seamlessly blended elements of romance and fantasy.

The first thing that stood out to me about Queen of Roses was the impeccable writing. Boleyn has a way with words that instantly transports you into the magical world she has created. The vivid descriptions and intricate world-building had me completely immersed in the story, making it impossible for me to put the book down.

But what truly sets this book apart is its expert use of cliffhangers. Each chapter left me on the edge of my seat, eagerly anticipating what would happen next. Boleyn has a knack for leaving just enough unanswered questions to keep readers engaged, without feeling frustratingly incomplete.

One of the things I loved most about this book was the romantasy aspect. Boleyn's portrayal of the romantic relationship between the two main characters. It was not a typical love story, but rather a slow burn that built up over time, making their chemistry feel all the more realistic and satisfying.

As I reached the end of Queen of Roses, I found myself wishing there was more to the story. The way Boleyn wrapped up the plot was both satisfying and bittersweet, leaving me eager for more of her enchanting writing.

In conclusion, Queen of Roses is a must-read for fans of romance and fantasy. Boleyn's beautiful writing, clever use of cliffhangers, and well-developed characters make this book an absolute joy to read. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a captivating and immersive story that will leave you wanting more. Trust me, you won't be able to put this book down.

I would like to thank Briar for allowing me to read the entire series as an ARC through netgalley. I cannot wait to read the rest of the series!!

As part of the celebration of Briar Boleyn's release of her fourth book of this series, I had the privilege of reading this through NetGalley. Thank you very much to both NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book. Now onto my first NetGalley review!

The first part of this book was the main reason that this did not get a 4 star and above. I found the situation setups especially with her brother were strange and didn't seem believable. It felt like he was being forced into this villain role. I also found Morgan to be a bit harsh especially to a potential love interest that made it hard to like her. One aspect I did find interesting was the religion aspect. I found it very interesting and different

The second part of the book tho... Once the quest started, I couldn't put it down and fully intend to read the second one. I loved the creatures and how the world evolved in this portion.

Overall I enjoyed this and would recommend to people who are looking for a medieval, fantasy romance that has little spice.