The beginning is very intriguing and I was immersed in the story right away. But when Aisling arrived in the fae Kingdom, the story started to feel too slow-paced and dragging. I was waiting for enemies to lovers romance, but I was disappointed. All I got was one kiss in the entire book. This is clearly slow-burn romance, and maybe all the spice is in the second book?

The writing style also bothered me a bit. I like world building but in this book I had a hard time following the plot because of the writing. The descriptions didn’t add value to the story and all it did was slowed down the plot. The epic battle ending was interesting, but by the end I was already bored with the characters, so I couldn’t care less what happens to them.

The thing I like about this book is the cute beastial servants and those were actually the best part of this book. I just had different kind of expectations for this book, so maybe that’s why this just wasn’t for me.

2.5 ⭐️

I was completely hooked reading this, the angst and tension between Aisling and Lir was to die for and I need more of them asap!! This magical world was rich and complex but the most perfect setting for this story, I felt it definitely lent more towards an epic fantasy rather than romantasy which I loved.

This book was such a great blend of magic, romance, intrigue and character development with epic action that every fantasy reader loves. Such a whimsical and addictive read!! ❤️

Perfect for fans or Sarah J Maas and Elise Kova.

The Mortal Queen by Ashley Metzler offers an intriguing premise—a mortal princess wed to a fae king to secure peace—but struggles to deliver on its potential. While the lush world-building and immersive descriptions are a clear strength, the pacing and character development left me wanting more.

Aisling, our heroine, spends much of the book trapped in her own thoughts, with excessive internal monologue slowing the story down. Meanwhile, Lir, the enigmatic fae king, felt distant and underdeveloped, making it hard to connect with the romance element. Though marketed as a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers story, the romantic tension felt underwhelming and rushed when it finally appeared.

That said, Metzler’s writing shows promise, and the detailed world-building kept me engaged at times. The audiobook narration by Samantha Norbury was a highlight, bringing the characters to life and adding emotional depth that might have been lacking otherwise.

Overall, The Mortal Queen has a strong foundation, but with tighter pacing, deeper character development, and more convincing romantic tension, it could have shined much brighter. I'll be curious to see how the sequel develops.

I want to start of by saying how grateful I am to have received this as an arc from Netgalley - LOVE YOU GUYS!!
I absolutely loved this one!! It was so well thought out:
- Plot = 5 stars, so interesting and unique
- Characters = 5 stars, believable, lovable - my favourite ever!
- Pacing = Great, slowed in some places but overall, steady and fast!
- Setting = magical, mystical, marvellous. SO AMAZING!!
- Everything else = GREAT!

I would definitely recommend this to any reader who is looking for a beautiful, well-written and engaging story!

I loved this book. Unfortunately I didn't finish it, but that had nothing to do with the book itself, I am chronically ill and I was having some pretty bad flare ups with no energy. I really enjoyed it actually. Aisling's perspective is interesting and the writing is vivid and beautiful enough to picture it. I wish I was feeling better and didn't run out of time, this was a great read. Anwynn sounds like such a beautiful and magical place.

DNF
I love everything about this so far but it just didn’t suck me in as much as I hoped it would. I will attempt to finish this at a later date.

Thoughts so far while reading:
- Humans are dumb
- There is no cure for stupidity nor is there an excuse for ignorance
- This story reminds me of the origins of Christianity and its destruction of all that was different

I DNF’d this at about 45%. I just couldn’t connect to the characters or story, despite this having a lot of themes/tropes I usually enjoy.

Aisling is promised as wife in a political exchange in order to secure peace and must use her natural talents to build a life for herself whilst learning to lead a people she fells no connection with.
This book was engrossing. It had excellent world building though the plot itself was slow on places. Despite that I am looking forward to the next in the series.

This book consumed me. The plot was addictive and twisted. I could not put it down. The difference between the human and Sidhe culture is so distinct and well-developed. The world Ashley builds is complex and stunning. You really get a sense of the rising hostility between the factions of the world.

I think my favourite part of this whole story was the concept of the ‘caera’. The origin story of the caera bond is beautiful and fantastical. Never heard of a tale that describes an origin-story. I’ve only ever read how it feels or described as a golden thread between souls. Never how it came to be and with such backstory. Call me a romantic if you like.

Seeing Aisling’s development is incredible and we are only seeing the beginnings of what she is to become. Aisling’s world and beliefs are constantly challenged by that of her new husband, causing perpetual conflict for the FMC. The slow burn tension is palpable between the main characters. Lir embodies the epitome of morally grey. He is ruthless yet charming. You don’t ever know whether you should love or hate the MMC. But you should love him… Lir subtly encourages Aisling to embrace herself independent of her human “tuath” family. He gives her the space to discover rather than press upon her. He gives her agency which I can’t help but appreciate.

Even the side characters are captivating and endearing. You can’t help but warm to characters like the first knight of Greenwood or Gilriel, the furry marten.

An absolutely masterpiece that sucked me him and never let me go.

An absolutely incredibly written book, which has definitely become one of my favorites of the year. The writing style is vivid and the worldbuilding with the magic and the different creatures is just fantastic. The story itself is fantastically written and captivating. The characters are well developed and complexly written. It is an arranged marriage with a strong slow burn, with good tension between Aisling and Lir. I'm looking forward to reading the other books in the series and getting deeper into their romance story and learning more about the magic system.

I gave the original book 5 stars, this one is no different!! The world Meltzer creates here remains one of my absolute favorites, her writing is beautiful and her characters remain some of my top MCs of all the books I’ve read. I can’t recommend this series enough!

I've never read a wordier book in my entire life. It was painful honestly. The spicey scenes and romance felt so forced and inauthentic. Not every book needs that kind of romance and sometimes, it just does the book a disservice honestly.

I enjoyed Mortal Queen’s world building and lore. These attributes absolutely pull the reader into a world of magic versus mortals from the very beginning where we have an arranged political marriage between two warring races. Though I knew this was a slow burn romance, it seemed a little too slow to be considered a romance at all. For two people who are fated to be together, I did not feel the electric chemistry between them. Where I could easily sense the loathing and contempt between them, it was when it came to their romantic interactions that I felt I was more being told what they were meant to be feeling than being shown the romantic chemistry between them.

On the topic of slow burn, most of the plot seemed pretty slow burn for me as well. The pacing between events dragged on. When the action finally came, it was satisfying, but then the pacing would lull between the next event. I wish there was more consistency in the pacing because I think the author was trying to build suspense and tension, I found myself becoming disinterested or disengaged from the scene.

I loved the prophecy, lore, overall plot of the story, however the only part where I felt I literally could not put the book down didn’t come until the last ten percent of the story, and then to be left with a cliffhanger felt disappointing instead of thrilling. I think had the pacing been more consistent, I would have been less compelled to stop reading for the day. Read up to an event, event satisfies, put the book down.

Good story, will definitely recommend and read the next installment.

Oh man, this book! It took me a while to get into to it to be honest. I found it to be kind of wordy, and overly descriptive at times. Aisling also kind of bugged me through most of the book, as she was too stubborn and hard headed for her own good.

My feelings turned around towards the end of the book. I loved the fact that she finally stood up to her family and that she was starting to accept who she is becoming. Lir is a great MMC, and although he's also battle hardened, you can tell he is trying to be soft for Aisling. This is definitely a slow burn, and I'm excited for the next book!

I've read The Mortal Queen, the first book of the Aisling Trilogy by Ashley Metzler.

I started it as an ARC, but due to private reasons, I bought the book when it's released.

The story is about Aisling, a mortal princess, who was ordered to marry the Fae Prince Lir to establish peace between the mortals and the fae realm. But both of them lied to her, used her in their advantage and she feels torn between her old and new life.
But after all, will there be a union or not between mortals and fae? That's for you to find out.

I appreciated this story and it had me compelled to want to read the next books of this trilogy.

I also want to thank Ashley Metzler and the Second Sky for this opportunity and enjoy this romantasy, so I give it a well-deserved 4 star rating!

Having recently finished The Mortal Queen by Ashley Metzler, I find myself reflecting on its immersive world and complex characters. The narrative follows Aisling, a mortal princess thrust into an arranged marriage with the enigmatic fae king, Lir, as part of a peace treaty between their realms. Initially, I was drawn to the premise—a blend of political intrigue, self-discovery, and a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance.

The world-building is undeniably rich; Metzler crafts a vivid tapestry of fae lore, magic, and mythical creatures that drew me into the story. Aisling's journey of self-discovery, as she navigates her new reality and uncovers hidden truths about her own powers, was engaging. The chemistry between Aisling and Lir developed gradually, adding depth to their evolving relationship.

However, I did find the pacing a bit uneven. The story started with a slow build, and at times, I felt the plot lacked momentum. Some readers might appreciate this deliberate pace, but personally, I was hoping for a bit more urgency in the narrative. Additionally, the third-person point of view occasionally made it challenging to connect deeply with the characters' inner thoughts and emotions.

Despite these observations, The Mortal Queen offers a unique take on the fae fantasy genre. It's an enjoyable read for those who appreciate intricate world-building and a romance that unfolds gradually. While it may not have fully met my expectations, I recognise its appeal and am definitely looking forward to the second book in the series to see where the story goes next.

3.5 stars rounded up ⭐️

The Mortal Queen by Ashley Metzler is such a fun start to the Aisling Trilogy! I loved Aisling’s journey of self-discovery, and the slow-burn romance with Lir had me hooked the whole time. The world-building is gorgeous, and the fae kingdom felt so real and immersive. The pacing took a bit to pick up, but once it did, I couldn’t put it down. I’m definitely looking forward to book two!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with this e-ARC.

This was such a fun read! The pacing was spot on, and I flew through it without even realizing how much time had passed. The world-building was intricate and ethereal, with the descriptions of the fae kingdom had me swooning. It felt rich and immersive, like stepping into a world that was both beautiful and dangerous.

I really enjoyed the characters and found myself growing attached to most of them. Aisling’s relationships with her brothers were a rollercoaster—full of tension, betrayal, and complicated emotions—but they made sense given their history. And the extremely slow burn with Lir kept me on edge the whole time, and I loved how their dynamic slowly evolved. The tension between them was so well done.

Aisling’s journey of self-discovery was one of my favorite aspects of the book. Watching her unravel all the lies she had been told her entire life—not just about herself, but about her people and the fae—made the story feel even more magical and immersive. Seeing the world through her eyes as she learned the truth gave it so much depth. She had her frustrating moments (as most FMCs in these kinds of books do), but it made her growth all the more satisfying, and she definitely grew on me as the story progressed.

Overall, I had a great time reading this! The mix of action, intrigue, and slow-burn romance kept me hooked, and after that ending, I’ll definitely be continuing the series.

✨Thank you to NetGalley and Ashley Metzler for graciously providing me with an ARC. All opinions are my own! ✨

Boring. Really really boring. This book never picked up for me and I was feeling absolutely lost by the end. It took me over 2 months to finish this book. The plot has crater sized holes, and the characters felt one dimensional. I didn't connect with a single character.

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I knew from the first few page that I was going to like this book. There was a good plot, deep lore and history, prejudice and distrust between the two factions. Everything was rich and vibrant and I loved that it took me to a whole new world.
The world is spectacular. It is beautiful and rich and completely vicious and I loved it! The story is enchanting. I mean, who doesn't like fated mates/forced marriage? But I also was really glad that they didn't give in to their lusts, especially at the beginning. I loved how Aishling longed for Lir but refused to believe that's what was going on.
I loved Lir as a character. While Aishling is trying to find her place in this new world, torn between who she is, could be, wanted to be and the expectations of her family - Lir is quietly, and sometimes broodingly trying to adjust to Aishling in his life while managing the expectations and demands of his title and subjects. I actually really liked Lir and as the book continues, he sees Aishling as less of a liability and irritant and more of a friend. The attraction seems to grow naturally but what I wouldn't have given for Lir's POV! I am dying to know what is going on in his head!
There is peril and danger throughout this book. Enemies become friends and friends become enemies and some characters are just total d**ks.
I loved the pacing of this book, the adventures, and the relationships that take hit after hit. I loved the lore of the book, the history, the twists, turns and the eventual ending. I was absolutely devastated that I wasn't able to get The Savage queen to review but it's on my TBR because I need to follow Aishling and Lir's story.

I only have a few gripes...

1) while the poetic description was appropriate for the world being built, it was a bit extensive and took over sometimes. However, because the descriptions were poetic, it drew you deeper into the world and and wove a spell that draws you in. In saying that, after I was about 60% of the way through, the descriptions were still so extensive that I started skimming it (sorry!).

2) The world is built alongside Aisling's knowledge of it and it is very well done, although there was a lot of unnecessary repetition. Things her father said, as though it played in a loop in her head, but it was a bit much for me and again, once I'd read the first part of it, I skimmed over the rest (sorry!)

3) Aishling was always so angry, like she was incapable of feeling any other emotion, or if she did, anger was right there beside it.

4) While I enjoyed the slow burn romance, it lacked intensity until near the end. Like they had all the time in the world, until they didn't and Lir was wracked with an urgency that wasn't reciprocated by Aishling. I like a bit of spice with my books and there was none in this one. I found myself waiting for Lir to make a move and was constantly disappointed when he didn't. To me, while they were attracted to each other, they never acted upon it and as time passed, Lir seen Aishling as his, rather than chasing the attraction. Still kind like him though. Asihling has bigger fish to fry and she is not about to lose her head over a man, Fae King or not. Good for her. I just want a bit more intensity and a little bit of spice.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this and I will be following Aishling's story.