Thank you, Netgalley for this amazing opportunity.

I'm just 3% into this book, and I literally have to stop.
I really don't want to DNF this book, but I'm struggling to read it.

I get really sleepy when there is no dialogue between characters.
There are so many words, and nothing is happening.
Narrative stories are not for me.

I'm really sorry, but maybe I'll pick this up next time, but for now, it's a no-no for me.

Where to begin. This book was magnificent. The twists and turns in this narrative where delicious. Though I am partial to a trope pf arranged marriage between a fae and a human. The lies that Ashley writes are carefully crafted and witty. The slow burn between Aisling and Lir is realistic, and toe curling. I would reccomend that every romantasy reader to give this book a try!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

This book is beautifully written, the beginning is a little heavier as you’re getting into all the world building and learning about the Aos Sí (Fae), the mortals. This book is so incredibly descriptive, the attention to detail is fantastic, especially when describing differences between the lands. The stark contrast between the lands of the Aos Sí and the mortal lands, the castle where Aisling grew up. The magic system is unique and so carefully and cleverly thought out and written.

The second half of the book had me absolutely gripped. Secrets, power, twists I didn’t see coming.

That cliffhanger too 😮

Cannot wait for the second book to continue the story and find out so much more about.. EVERYTHING!! ⚔️🔥

Wow! So this book starts off a bit typical, a little slow. But at the end, I will say I was truly shocked! I really enjoyed Aisling’s development throughout the book. If you are looking for a slow burn romance with zero spice, this is your book. Great plot and a few twists at the end!

I enjoyed the world building and politics in The Mortal Queen. I will say, this felt more like a fantasy novel with a slight romance subplot rather than a slow-burn romantasy and I would not compare it to Sarah J Maas. I do think Holly Black is a good comparison though!

This is a third person single POV story. I like the third person but I hope we get more POVs in the other books as there is a lot Aisling doesn't know so it was hard to connect to a lot of the side characters.

I found a lot of Aisling's choices frustrating throughout the book, but they absolutely made sense based on her past and I honestly prefer a main character with some flaws and growth. I do wish the growth was a little more steady as some of the progress or regression felt abrupt.

The first 75% of this is rather slow paced but not in a bad way. It was a very immersive and interesting world. The ending felt a little rushed by comparison but I'm looking forward to finding out what happens next.

Thanks to NetGalley and Second Sky for this ARC!

🧡Thank you NetGalley & the author Ashley Metzler for the early access of The Mortal Queen🧡

✨arranged marriage for political alliance
✨fae
✨fated mated
✨slowwwwww burn
✨third person POV
✨Enemies to Lovers

✨ Aisling’s father arranged for her to be married to the fae king, Lir, to broker peace between the fae and humans. Aisling has been taught all her life that fae are an evil and devious species. Upon meeting Lir, Aisling finds out that he is not the beast she thought he would be. She soon finds there are things significantly more dangerous than what she thought the fae were. During a fight next it Lir, Aisling feels something powerful growing inside her, a power the fae have not seen before. Now Aisling must learn how to navigate a new life with powers she doesn’t know how to control in a world she was lied to about✨


My thoughts:
💫 I overall enjoyed this book a lot. I loved the world building and the immersive detail the author provides. This is the first book in the trilogy and has practically no romance between the to MCs. I wish we had a little more pining between the two since they are supposed to be fated mates. We had little glimpses of his want of her but I was hoping for a little more. You get one kiss at the end (which was absolutely swoon-worthy). I found the phrase “the mortal queen” to be repetitive in the book to a point I got annoyed when I heard it mentioned. Even with the few downfalls I plan to continue this series and can’t wait to find out what happens with Aisling and Lir. 💫

I enjoyed it and I don’t know what I was expecting also it trilogy 2 book series it’s a romance fantasy

Married to a dark fae king, her world is now one of danger and desire…

The fae have been at war with mortals for as long as Aisling can remember. Now, to save her people, she must sacrifice herself – by marrying the savage fae king.

As her wedding draws closer, Aisling prepares for a fate worse than death. But when she meets her new husband, he is not at all the beast she expected.
An absolutely irresistible, slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance,

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of The Mortal Queen.

I loved the premise — an arranged marriage between a human and a fae with hints of hidden magic? Yes, please! Unfortunately, the execution fell flat for me. The writing felt clunky, often switching between calling Aisling by name and "The Mortal Queen" within the same paragraph, making it hard to stay immersed. The third-person POV also created some distance, making it difficult to connect with the characters.

Repetition was another issue — Aisling's father’s warnings about the fae were drilled into the narrative a little too often. The slow pacing of both the plot and romance didn’t work for me, as I prefer a fast-paced, high-stakes romance.

That said, I seem to be in the minority. If you enjoy slow burns and love the premise, you might have a much better experience!

This book was so beautifully written. I felt so immersed in the world, and while this made the pace a bit slower it made the story all the more magical. I loved the fact the lore was different to maybe others with its gaelic references. I would say that it is slightly false advertising to say the fae court is full of passion and desire, because this was a super slow burn. I am desperate to read book 2 now because I have got to see what happens to Aisling

“You’re the only creature on the Earth that’s been given the opportunity to view this war from two pairs of eyes. Don’t blind yourself to one to uphold the lies of the other.”

“The Mortal Queen,” by Ashley Metzler

I liked the plot of the book about the human princess and the fae king arranged marriage. I liked the mystery of how everything would unfold when the characters found out the motives of the other characters, good build up for that. The book blurb said it’s good for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Holly Black, and Callie Hart; I wouldn’t say any of those authors can be compared to Ashley Metzler, its hard to say because this is the first book in the series but this story so far doesn’t feel as big plot wise and character wise to be compared to authors who write much bigger worlds, I just didn’t get the vibe for it. The biggest part that held me back from giving it a 5 star was that it was really slow at the beginning, the last half of the book though was really good and right up my alley. 4 out of 5 stars, definitely be reading book 2 in the series.

-Fae
-Arranged Marriage

Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.

I thought this was a really good start to a fantasy series. I do think it’s marketed a bit wrong though. I was expecting more of a Romantasy with some steam scenes and there was almost no romance throughout the book, just a lot of tension. I was waiting for it to happen but it just…. Didn’t happen. Which is okay! But it was marketed as a steamy fantasy so I was going into this novel fully expecting that.

Otherwise I thought the plot was really well done with a unique magic system and world with a spin on fantastical creatures. Overall I would definitely give this one a read!

Thank you NetGalley and Second Sky for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 stars! I absolutely loved the concept of this book. I also loved the different creatures present in this book and thought they were all so unique! Unfortunately, I think the execution fell flat. I do think a lot of it was due to it being third person. I could never really connect with the characters or the story happening. The romance was okay, but I expect that it will pick up in the next book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an eArc in exchange for an honest review.

That ending got me! I need to know what happens next.

If you’re a fan of a romance that takes its time to build, this one delivers. The slow burn between Aisling and Lir kept me hooked, making every interaction between them feel charged. The writing was immersive, filled with vivid descriptions that brought the world of the fae to life.

An arranged marriage between a mortal and a fae king is one of my favorite tropes, but the story goes beyond that. Aisling’s journey of self-discovery was one of my favorite parts, watching her grow into her power and challenge what she thought she knew. The world-building was detailed and atmospheric, making it easy to get lost in the magic and danger.

Overall, if you love fantasy with rich storytelling and an enemies-to-lovers romance, I’d definitely recommend this one.

Thank you NetGalley and Second Sky Books for the gifted copy!

I loved this story! I really enjoyed the conflict between Lir and Aisling - I could feel the pull between them but appreciated that they didn't instantly give in. It added tremendously to the plot and the slow burn makes you crave their final connection all the more. Aisling has a lot of growth in this book alone, which makes her a likeable character. She starts as naive and loyal to her family, then becomes powerful and loyal to herself. She is not an FMC that is scared to do what she feels best, and doesn't hesitate to speak up when she knows of any wrongdoing. I read a lot of fantasy and this book is not like any others that I have read prior. There were a few times I bet Aisling's inner turmoil was repetitive, but otherwise I was drawn in to the story and couldn't put the book down. I am eager to read the second book in the series.

Hi and thank you for this book!

I found it quite hard to get into, and I really had to urge myself to finish it. The initial worldbuilding was a struggle for me to get through.

The FMC and Fae king dynamic was interesting but the slow burn was not enough to really capture me.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

4⭐️1.75🌶️

Fantasy Romance
Single POV
Celtic/irish Mythology
Unique Magic System
Sentient Magic
Fae
Magical Beasts
Marriage of convenience
Yearning
Slow burn

Mortal Queen is a republication of Aisling: Breath of the New Creature. I won’t lie, I think the old title and cover were more eye-catching than the new ones, though even the previous covers didn’t quite capture the fantasy vibe, so I understand the change. As for the title, The Mortal Queen feels a bit forgettable. I’m not sure why the team went with it, especially when Breath of the New Creature (or something close to it) would have been much more exciting.

It’s also a little odd to see Aisling referred to as “Mortal Queen” in the narration instead of her name so often—about 50% of the time, in fact. It took me out of the story at times, making me wonder if the author added her name later and used “Mortal Queen” as a placeholder. It definitely kept me from fully connecting with the characters.

That said, the mythology, descriptions of beasts, and the beautiful writing around the magic were my absolute favorite parts of the book.

I really enjoyed the romantic tension. It was so delicately done, letting the focus remain on Aisling’s growth as a character before introducing a more consuming romance. I’m excited to see where it goes in book two.

I’m so glad I have the second book as an eARC because I’m starting it right away!

Thank you NetGalley and Second Sky Books for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Mortal Queen by Ashley Metzler swept me into a captivating world of magic, political intrigue, and unforgettable romance. Aisling’s journey from reluctant bride to fierce warrior alongside the enigmatic fae king, Lir, was absolutely enthralling. Their chemistry crackled with tension, making this enemies-to-lovers arc irresistible.

Metzler’s lush world-building was reminiscent of favorites like Sarah J. Maas and Holly Black, with deadly enchantments and mythical creatures at every turn. The story’s thrilling twists and deep emotional stakes kept me flipping pages late into the night. Fans of slow-burn romances with action-packed adventures and strong-willed heroines will adore this book.

I’m already eager for Book 2 — this series is destined to be a favorite among romantasy lovers!

Thank you Net Galley, Bookouture Audio and Second Sky for providing me with an ARC/ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book, from the very beginning I was sucked in to this magical and immersive world. The world building was great and it felt a bit different to other fae fantasy books due to its new take on the Seelie, Unseelie and other magical creatures.

Aisling was an interesting main character, she has grown up being told one thing about the fae and you really feel her world being thrown upside down when she starts to find out the truth. There were times when I found her annoying because of how she was treating Lir and the other fae but I can also see how this added to her character. She was a character who was torn between what she’s been told by her family and this new world she was living in and I think the reminders of that even if it was repetitive were necessary.

The romance aspect of this book isn’t very prevalent but I can see the crumbs that were laid out. The book focused more on the politics and world building but I did enjoy the tension between Lir and Aisling. I’m looking forward to where that relationship goes in the next book and the possibility of a love triangle with Dagfin.

As well as reading this book I was given the opportunity to listen to the audiobook. The narrator Samantha Norbury did a fantastic job at immersing me in this world. The way she depicted all the different characters and creatures was excellent and it really added depth to an already great story. If you have the option of listening to this story I’d highly recommend it.

This story is definitely a slow burn but I’m excited to read the next book in the series and to see where Aisling’s story will go.

The Mortal Queen by Ashley Metzler is an enthralling fantasy that weaves romance, danger, and magic into a captivating tale. Aisling’s forced marriage to Lir, the king of the fae, leads her into a world of enchantment and deadly intrigue. While the fae are feared as monsters, Lir proves to be far more complex than she expected—both a fierce protector and a dangerous allure. As Aisling uncovers dark secrets and her own hidden powers, she must navigate treacherous alliances and a growing attraction that threatens to unravel everything. A thrilling, action-packed story with rich world-building and compelling characters.

3.75 ⭐️

Super magical read. Lots of familiar tropes and themes here...fae against humans, prophecies & curses, fated mates, an arranged marriage, enemies-to-allies-kinda lovers-to....?...well honestly I don't really know but that cliffhanger has me EXTREMELY interested to find out! Aisling's adventure squad at the end made up of her gaggle of brothers and Fin going into the next book....well, I definitely can't wait to see what they get into. Did someone sayyy...cough...book 2 potential love triangle...cough cough...!?!?! 😏

This book in and if itself was a slow burn - steady, methodical pacing the whole way through with a super climactic payoff. This could, however, feel slow to you if you are used to reading action-packed fantasy.

The writing here is rich in detail and depth. The world building gave me a mysterious and ethereal vibe.

While the descriptive prose was immersive, the narrator's reflections sometimes overpowered the actual conversations happening between characters. Because of this, dialogue exchanges lost their natural rhythm at times, and I found myself backtracking to remember what had just been said. A more streamlined approach to internal thoughts would have helped maintain the tension and clarity of character interactions.

The "romance" here is more of a fated mates alliance. Yes, Aisling and Lir build a connection along the way, and there's a heavy emphasis on Aisling coming to terms with being lied to her entire life about the fae. She has crazy, deep rooted prejudices that influenced her attitude quite heavily, to the point that I didn't start to like her character until about the halfway point.

I didn't find myself having cartoon-eyes at Lir. It could be because their dynamic felt more like a friendship for 90% of the book, but damn that "I'll hunt you down" at the end really has me rethinking how he's going to show up in book 2. This series still has a lot left to give and I need it to crank up a notch on the drama and passion for the next installment!

✔️ Fae x Humans
✔️ Prophecies & Curses
✔️ Arranged Marriage
✔️ Enemies-to-Allies-to-kinda lovers vibes
✔️ Heavy Xenophobia
✔️ Fae King MMC, Human FMC
✔️ Part of a Trilogy
❌ No steam or spice (but there is slow building Romance)