I read this book in less than 24 hours. The whole entire book, and was scavenging for more immediately.

I really loved this story. From the start, I was sucked into Aisling's world and transfixed by the descriptions and magic system that the author has created. Not only is the world solidly built, but the magic system is just complex enough, and the turmoil between "sides" is established. I especially loved the descriptions of the characters, the world and the "feelings" that the characters get from the world around them. Having these hand/foot holds just let me fall into the story and get lost with these characters.

Speaking of characters, Aisling is so righteous when we first meet her and so invested in what her father and family have told her. Her experience and welcome to the world of the fae don't do her any favors for coming around and away from these learned notions. With that said, she does start to come around eventually, thanks to Lir and others from his world. While I of course wanted her to see the truth sooner, I appreciated that it wasn't just a "snap of the fingers" or "a night with the fae king" that changed her mind. This reinforced the stance from the beginning that she was not a pushover, and not someone that would balk from the truth once her eyes were opened. As for Lir, I wanted chapters from his view. I wanted to know his mind, and what he was thinking from the start. I now understand why were were not gifted this in book 1, but am entirely looking forward to it in the coming books. He definitely still has secrets to keep and I cannot wait to see what he does next.

I cannot wait for the next books to come out! I will absolutely be preordering them and telling all my friends about them!!

I very much enjoyed this book! It's not predicable, never knew what was going to happen next. Ainsley's life changed when she was handfasted to Lir the fae king in a way she could never have thought possible for a mortal. Living in the fae world introduced her to experiences and beings so different from what she grew up knowing and realized she'd been lied to all her life by her family, most importantly by her father. There's a connection between Ainsley and Lir, but they aren't sure what it is yet. Can't wait for the next book in the series, I've been drawn into their story!

While I did enjoy this and look forward to seeing more, I found there were parts that dragged a little.
I know some of this was because of it being the first in a series and it was needed. it made it harder for me to engage at first. This may have been my mood though not the book.

When i did finally get into it though, I flew through it. I had to get through about half of it for this though.


I enjoyed the characters. The world was interesting and made me want to learn more. The magical system of the fae also was enjoyable.

I do look forward to the next book when it comes out.

The beginning of this book did not give me high hopes, but I was happily surprised within the first 10-15% of the book. This was 4.5/5 stars! Mortal vs Fae, will the marriage between mortal princess and fae king solve the problem? maybe? Who is the bad guy? Good question.... The character development was beautiful and left just enough room for us to want more and more. The world building was also well executed. Together the plot was enticing and kept me sucked in from page to page. I feel like in fantasy often times the relationship between the main characters is rushed, however, in this book Aisling and Lir's relationship is smooth and beautiful and this made it more realistic to the reader. The battle between the two who are also both internally battling themselves kept me flipping the page to see if they were ever going to give in to one another, so much so that at the end of the book I was almost in tears and audibly gasping with the cliffhanger. The cherry on top is all the sentient characters especially Gilrel. I will 100% be reading on in this series.

*4.75

ARC COPY: Thank you so much for this - and honestly, one of the best arcs i have ever received.

PLOT: 10/10
CHARACTERS: 9/10
ROMANCE: 9/10
DEVELOPMENT : 10/10
WORLD-BUILDING: 10/10

I loved this. And it surprised me, because I personally didn't like how it started. The character development of Aisling, however, I thought was wonderfully built, and I also thought the other character were beautifully written too. The world-building was something I enjoyed greatly, with all the prophecies, as well as explaining of the different worlds in just one book, was absolutely incredible. As someone who prefers plot over romance, it surprised me when I enjoyed both a lot - I thought the slow burn was done really well, and the plot - the lies and the twists, I loved it so much. But I wanted to say - the ending, wow. To be able to fit that all into one book - i want to say that Metzler is talented, I really can't wait for this.

This book is about a mortal and fae forced into a marriage for peace. Absolutely nothing happened in this book until the 50% mark where the Mortal Queen threw a party trick and set someone on fire. Nothing and I mean NOTHING happened happened or gave a hint to the overall plot until the 90% mark in the book. This bool was slow, and uneventful.

Also received my copy from Netgalley, however, it was hard to find on goodreads because there’s two different covers and named authors.

I absolutely loved stepping into the world of Aisling and her journey and cannot wait to continue on into the next book. Perfect for slow-burn lovers of Romantasy and young adult. I love that I will be able to book talk this with my teen patrons and will be adding this to my collection. Easy to read and binge worthy. I know lots of readers who will devour this series. Great world building with magic, beasts, and everything you’d want for this genre. Would strongly recommend for fans of Sarah J. Maas.

Ensorcelled from the very first chapter!

I devoured the fluid prose of this unique take on a fantasy world and am now obsessed with both this world and these characters. The world building was descriptive and well paced (no info dump) sprinkled with nodes to Celtic lore. The slow burn romance was incredibly slow, with no spice, and phenomenal tension making the development and change in the relationship from enemies to lovers feel earned. Each character was unique and held their own voice helping the reader to not get lost in the volume of characters.

I loved the self discovery journey that Aisling went on, struggling to separate what she has been told her whole life from what she was learning in this new world, and decide for herself what to believe. Lir is a compelling character. I can see him being painted as morally grey at times, however, most times he is simply unapologetic about what he is willing to do to protect his people and his kingdom and is unwilling to hide or color his actions to appear as something they are not the way others do.

This book is going on my favorites list and I cannot wait for the next book!
—
🌲Debut novel
🏔️Trilogy
🌲Morally grey MMC
🏔️Slowburn romance
🌲Self-discovery journey
🏔️Forced proximity
🌲Enemies to lovers
🏔️Lies & betrayal
🌲Fantasy
🏔️Celtic lore
🌲Fae
🏔️Unseelie
🌲Anthropomorphism
🏔️Magic
🌲Prophecy
🏔️No spice
🌲Single POV
—
Thank you Second Sky and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review! 📚 (Is it too soon to request the sequel?!)
Publishers release date 2/14/2025

The only daughter of a mortal Northern king, Aisling is sent to marry the king of the Fae, the mortal enemy of her people. But as Ashling learns more about the fight between the Fae and mortals, it may be more complicated than she has always believed.

There were some interesting themes in this book that I really hope will be explored more in the trilogy - why are there so few daughters born both to the mortal world and to the Fae? How have other parts of their world lived in harmony or grudging resistance further to the South?

Lir and Aisling are incredibly appealing MCs. Aisling is a bit naive, but kind hearted and eager to befriend those in both part of her lives. Lir is incredibly withdrawn and a character who does not give much away, which I will admit makes his actions in the end of the book unsurprising, simply because I did not really feel I had much of a sense of him. Hopefully we will have more of a perspective of him in the next book, which I will definitely be interested in reading.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoyed Game of Thrones or the works of Sarah J. Maas.

The Mortal Queen by Ashley Metzler is an engrossing fantasy romance that combines intricate world-building, strong characters, and an engaging plot. Set against the backdrop of a precarious peace between mortals and fae, the story centers on Aisling, a mortal woman betrothed to the formidable fae king, Lir. As she grapples with her new role, Aisling discovers that the fae realm is as dangerous as it is beautiful, and her growing connection with Lir challenges her beliefs about her enemies.

Metzler excels at creating a vividly immersive setting, and her descriptive prose brings the fae realm to life. The romance, rooted in the enemies-to-lovers trope, is satisfyingly slow-burn, with moments of genuine emotional resonance. Both Aisling and Lir are complex characters whose arcs unfold thoughtfully, keeping readers invested.

However, the novel isn’t without its flaws. At times, the pacing lags, especially in the middle chapters, where the emphasis on internal monologues and world-building slows the momentum. Additionally, while the supporting characters add texture to the story, some feel underdeveloped, leaving readers wanting more depth and engagement with the secondary cast. The political intrigue, while intriguing, could have been expanded further to heighten the stakes.

Despite these (very minor) shortcomings, The Mortal Queen is a compelling read, blending romance, danger, and fantasy in a way that will appeal to fans of Sarah J. Maas or Holly Black. Its strengths far outweigh its weaknesses, making it a worthwhile addition to the fantasy romance genre.

4.5 stars, but I'm giving it 5 because there is no half star and I really enjoyed this book.

It is very much Young Adult. Absolutely zero spice, but the romantic tension is there. No foul language. Enemies-to-lovers (or not) with a super slow burn. This story promises such development in the second book. It was exciting, engaging, and easy-to-read. Lir and Aisling are unexpected fated mates from different species. It has a Romeo and Juliet star-crossed love vibe. The fae (Sidhe and Unseelie) monsters were interesting and well described.

Highly recommend this book especially for teens or young adults looking to get into fantasy reading. It is reminiscent of some of Sarah J. Maas's early books. Ashley Metzler is an author I will keep an eye out for in the future.

“Married to a fae king who’s dangerously perfect? Cue the slow-burn sparks and epic fantasy battles.”

When Aisling’s father signs a treaty marrying her off to Lir, King of the Fae, she’s convinced this union spells her doom—especially since the fae have a reputation for savage cruelty. But the ruthless monster she’s expecting isn’t who greets her at the altar. Lir is fiercely protective of his realm, an alluring enigma who inspires both curiosity and an undeniable attraction.
Swept into a world of spellbinding magic and fearsome beasts, Aisling discovers deadly secrets lurking beneath the fae’s glittering veneer. As she and Lir fight side by side to quell an ancient evil, Aisling’s own power stirs to life—untamed and intoxicating. Torn between her duty and a passion that defies all logic, Aisling must learn to master the strength awakening inside her or risk both the mortal and fae worlds falling into ruin.

Why You’ll Love It:
• Slow-Burn, Enemies-to-Lovers Vibes: A marriage of obligation crackles with romantic tension—and might just become something more powerful.
• Dangerous Fae World-Building: Enchantments, deadly beasts, and hidden evils will keep you on your toes.
• Passionate & Fierce Heroine: Aisling wields her growing power and her convictions with fierce resolve, making her a protagonist you’ll root for.
• Perfect for Fans of Sarah J. Maas, Holly Black, and Callie Hart: If you crave swoon-worthy fae kings and action-packed fantasy, this is a must-read.

The Mortal Queen delivers a riveting dance between duty and forbidden desire, set against a breathtaking backdrop of fae intrigue. Prepare for an unrelenting journey of magic, monstrous foes, and a dangerously seductive romance.

#TheMortalQueen #AshleyMetzler #AislingTrilogy #FaeRomance #EnemiesToLovers #SlowBurn #FantasyReads #SarahJMaasFans #HollyBlackFans #CallieHartFans #Magic #ActionAndRomance #MustReadFantasy #Bookstagram #BookTok

In this story we meet Aisling who is a mortal princess- The daughter of a King of a mortal clann, who’s greatest enemy is the fae. The fae are portrayed as heartless monsters, and Aisling has not ventured alot into the world, and her knowledge of both the fae and the world is therefore limited. She is being sent away to marry the fae king, in order to establish a treaty of peace between the humans and fae- things are however not as easy as they seem- and there are more enemies lurking in the lands other than the fae, and bigger plans and schemes at play.

This book has a plotline with similar aspects to other books i have read, however this book is at the same time truly unique. We have a unique magic system with elements inspired by celtic folklore, and the system is both complex and original- with a lot of different mythical creatures in addition to the fae.

I loved the characters. This book has all the tropes that i love, but the book also focuses a lot on the actual plotline, so the romance is not the sole focus of the story. It has a nice balance between plot and romance, and i loved the slow-burn.

I did in the beginning however find the writing to be a bit heavy, so it took some time for me to get properly into the story, but the writing is elegant and poetic regardless. The last half of the book was very exciting, with lots of mysteries, political intrigues and plot-twists i did not see coming. The ending also left me wanting more, so i will definitely be continuing this series.

Thank you so much to Second Sky and the author Ashley Metzler for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review through Netgalley! <3

Aisling is promised to the Lir, the king of the fae. Lir is surpisingly not a monster and she must readjust her views on her husband....

Love the slow burn and enemies to lovers trope. Terrific chemistry between the leads. Love the plot too. The political intrigue is terrific.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

Excellent worldbuilding, elegant prose. Aisling and Lir in an epic slow burn. Side characters were as interesting as the main characters. Cliffhanger.

I absolutely adored this book. My magic system is so interesting and had me hooked from the beginning. Arranged- marriage can sometimes difficult to do but this author absolutely smashed it especially with the slow burn. One of my new favourite fantasy reads ever.

I rated this book 5 stars because I loved the experience of reading it. It was fabulous with every letter. The Mortal Queen is a beautiful experience! So so good.

Aisling es entregada en matrimonio/sacrificio al rey fae, Lir, para poner fin a la guerra entre humanos y faes. Ella solo conoce la versión humana sobre su enemistad, y todo su conocimiento acerca de ellos es limitado, pero sabe que son poderosos, les gusta lastimar a la gente y deberá tener mucho cuidado cuando entre al mundo fae. Poco a poco se dará cuenta de que lo que creía saber tal vez no sea cierto, y que aquellos a quienes consideraba monstruos no lo son, que el verdadero enemigo está más cerca de lo que imagina. Pero, ¿deberá creer ciegamente en todo lo que le dicen los faes, o será que están jugando con ella? ¿Debería haberle hecho caso a su hermano y no confiar en ellos?

Espero que el siguiente libro contenga descripciones más detalladas de los lugares, ya que en este sentí que estaba a ciegas. Ojalá Lir povs para ver el otro lado de las cosas.



Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.