I love a gooooood slow burn and this gives me all that I was hoping for! I loved the descriptions and had this book on my TBR before it got picked up so thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC to me for an honest review. The magic system was fascinating and I’ll say this as vague as I can so it doesn’t give away too much to the story— what you have learned may not always be what it seems!

I really enjoyed this! It had all the tropes that I love and it gave off ACOTAR vibes with the world building, side characters, human and fae relationship etc. The writing is so descriptive I felt I could really picture what I was reading and it kept me hooked. I would give 5 stars but some chapters are quite long and I don't love a long chapter! Also the slow burn is maybe a bit too slow... i was hoping for some love and passion but maybe we will get that in book 2 which I will definitely be reading!

The Mortal Queen by Ashley Metzler published date 14th February 2025. 4⭐️

I enjoyed this book. It's not so much focussed on the romance side of things it's more political, more character driven, perhaps veering more towards fantasy than romantasy at this stage. The world building was good. I imagine where the Aos Sí live to be extremely beautiful and enchanting and that's how it's written. There's no spice in this book so it's perfect for people looking for a fantasy / romantasy without spice.

The writing is really good and it had elements of fantasy that I really enjoy.

The FMC might irritate you slightly, but actually she comes across as someone who, in that position, would be confused. She doesn't know which way is up, who to trust, who to believe and those around her are unsure of her as she is of them.

I liked the MMC but felt we didn't get to know much about him. He has a past, a very interesting one, so I'm a little sad we didn't get his POV and the FMC didn't really press him that much or seem that bothered to get to know him.

The magic system is interesting, I also enjoyed how members of the fae court are all manners of beasts, fae and other beings. I liked the side characters and you grow to like them as Aisling does.

The political intrigue is well written. You don't know who or what the deal is with either side of the fence, until it becomes a little clearer towards the end. Who do we trust? 🤔🤔

The one thing I think this book was missing was a spark between the FMC & MMC. I mean there are the glances and small touches but actually I didn't feel the yearning, passion, or connection between them. There's no deep conversations that unlock their feelings etc. Perhaps it's what's happened to the MMC in the past but we don't have his POV. I can see it simmering towards the end but it definitely is a sloowww burn.

I definitely want to read the next book though, I'm interested in where Aisling and Lir will go!

Thank you to NetGalley, Second Sky, and the author for the arc. This is my own personal review of the book.

Okay I LOVED this!! Such a slow burn, enemies, protector, everything I love. Destined for Fae Lands, no one is half she’s there. Will she survive? Some twists that I did not see coming, really really enjoyable story! Can’t wait for the rest!

First of all, huge thanks to NetGalley and Second Sky for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited to read this book—marriage of convenience? Enemies to lovers? Fae x human? Slow burn? High fantasy?
It had all the tropes I love, and the first few pages had me hooked.

The plot was intriguing: the human princess of the North is forced to marry the fae prince to prevent a war between their species and maintain peace. As she moves into his castle and learns about their customs, the mysterious danger lurking in the fae's forest both worries and fascinates her.

The writing was rich and detailed, something I had been missing in my recent fantasy reads. The world-building was exquisite, making the setting feel incredibly immersive and real.

However, at some point, it became too much—the descriptions were so extensive that the actual scenes stopped flowing, and I even found myself getting lost in details that ultimately didn’t matter. The same thing happened with the narration: it became repetitive, not just in word choice but also in structure. By the end, every chapter felt just like the previous one, except with new characters introduced with barely any context.

I couldn’t connect with the characters, partly due to how disconnected I felt from the story because of these issues. While the world was over-described, the characters lacked depth—even the protagonists. And although it’s a slow burn (a VERY slow one), I couldn't even believe there was any real romance developing. The few romantic scenes felt forced and, again, repetitive.

I hate to say it, but by the halfway point, I was bored. No matter how much I tried to push through, I just couldn’t get back into the story—I wasn’t invested in what was happening, and reading on felt like a chore. I've decided to put it down for now. If it were a standalone, I might have pushed through to see how it ends, but since it's the first in a trilogy, I just don’t see myself caring enough to continue.

The story and the characters were great, but as this was the unedited version of the story, thus there where a lot of issues with the fluidity of the language and storytelling. But I'm excited to see how the editited version that comes out later this month.
But, all in all, this book had a bit of a slow start - though it is slow-burn so what else is there to be expected? - but the world is sooo well-thoughtout and I really end up understanding why the FMC hates the fae to the degree she does, but also, there were so many clues that the MMC wants her, and she doesn't notice?! 😪 But you know what? Go off our naive queen ✨
I'm super excited to continue reading this series and see where the wolrd takes us, and Aisling. And Lir, I'm rooting for you!!!!

3,5 ⭐
3 🔥

This was very entertaining, but I feel as though there was some untapped potential...

I loved the world building and the description of the fae folk. It gave a wonderfully whimsical feel to the story. The blooming romance between Aisling and Lir felt realistic and I would love to see them grow even more in future books.
I did feel that the beginning was overwhelming in its suppy of information, causing me to be confused and having to go back every once in a while, but it could be completely my brain and the fact that I was overwhelmed with work when starting this book.

I'd definitely give this a go if you're hesitant and will absolutely be recommending it to my friends!

This is a book I’ll never stop recommending! It had me in a choke hold from start to finish. Metzler has a rare and incredible gift for writing, making this story absolutely captivating. In the first book, we meet Aisling, a mortal princess who is set to marry, only to discover that her fiancé is actually her mortal enemy. She soon learns that her own family has used her as nothing more than a pawn in their alliance with the Sidhe. Now, she must navigate a world filled with those she’s been taught to believe will do anything to deceive and destroy mortals. The story is beautifully interwoven with folklore, making the world building flawless. I fell in love with these characters and the way they interacted with each other which added so much depth to the story. As Aisling adjusts to her new life and husband, she realizes that she may not be who she thought she was. Making her embark on a journey. A quest that is both physical and mental, to uncover who her true enemies are and ultimately, to discover who she really is. I can't get over how much I love this book and Metzler's writing style. I can’t wait to continue with the rest of the series!

*Thank you to Ashley Metzler, Second Sky and Netgalley for the ARC and copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.

My rating: 4.5 stars

I’m a really big fan of this book and series! After blazing through this ARC, I was so happy to see that this book and the sequel would be published on the same day because I’m so anxious to keep reading!

First, for all the things that I liked about this book and the start of this series. The biggest thing for me as a massive fan of fantasy books is world-building and this author is a pro. I feel like I have true knowledge of how this intricate world works, but also like I have so much more to learn, which is such a fine line to play. I loved the writing style which was incredibly descriptive, with flowery, lush language. There is a full cast of characters that are interesting and you want to know more about them. And that cliffhanger at the end leaves you desperate for more!

Now, there are things about this book that made me knock off half a star. I was fine with the slow pacing throughout the book, as a consequence of the very descriptive narrative writing, but I know that style isn’t for everyone. For me, though, I feel like the romance is too much of a slow burn. That’s one of my favorite romance tropes, but this didn’t end up going anywhere unfortunately and this arranged marriage between our main characters was mostly relegated to some heated glances and tension, nothing more. Obviously the next books sk advance this, but it’s hard to wait for something I’m excited for. I also wish the author had included a pronunciation guide in this book! It would have been appreciated.

Overall, however, this is a great addition to the fae romance genre and I think the intricate world within deserves further exploring.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the chance to read this eARC!

An intense and clever take on the old classic of using an arranged marriage to bring peace.

Aisling was given by the mortals supposedly as a sacrifice for peace. As time goes on we get taken on her journey first learning what she has been taught from when she was a child through to her learning what the fae deign to share with her. Somewhere in all of this in a new world, with strange people and a mysterious husband Aisling starts to figure out who she is and what she believes. She is far from done at the end of this first book and I look forward to finding out in the second where this will lead her.

With a really interesting group of surrounding characters and an intricately built world of mortals, fae and old magic I very quickly got caught up in this world. I would definitely recommend this as a fantasy for people who are looking for an interesting female lead and not heavy on the romance (so far).

I was lucky to read an arc of this book from the publishers through netgalley

The premise of the book had me really intrigued. Overall the book was good and I really enjoyed the world building.

The book is incredibly descriptive which results in it being pretty slow paced. I would have liked a bit more character depth, especially with the central couple. The romance is definitely a slow burn and I would have liked to see a few more light hearted moments to keep me interested.

I did enjoy the book and I am intrigued how the series will develop.

The Mortal Queen by Ashley Metzler had so much potential—an arranged marriage between a human and a fae? Political intrigue? Hidden magic? Yes, please. But while the premise was strong, the execution didn’t fully land for me.

The worldbuilding and politics were interesting, and I liked the way the fae were portrayed. But the writing felt a bit clunky at times, with some repetition that pulled me out of the story. The third-person POV also made it harder to connect deeply with Aisling and her journey. The romance was a very slow burn—maybe too slow—so if you’re looking for intense chemistry, this might not be it.

That said, I think fans of Holly Black’s style or those who love a more methodical, intrigue-heavy fantasy might enjoy this more. If the next book picks up the pacing and deepens the emotional stakes, I’d be curious to continue.

ＮＥＴＧＡＬＬＥＹ
ＲＥＶＩＥＷ

𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
- arranged marriage
- human princess x fae king
- woodland fae magic and creatures
- thirst for power and knowledge
- fated mates
- strong FMC
- bit of a love triangle
- slow burn
- humans vs nature

𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙚: none but coming in the next books

𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬:
This book and world, wow!! I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The world, the lore, the vibes; everything was so immersive. I especially loved the woodland creatures, the references to nature, and the unique magic system that made the story feel so alive and enchanting.
I also enjoyed how we as readers learn about the world alongside the female main character. As she discovers more about the world , her beliefs and the truths hidden from her, we uncover those same things with her, which made the story even more engaging.

One thing to note is that this book requires a bit of focus. With the unique names, creatures, and the fae language, i had to really sit down and pay attention to fully absorb everything. This isn’t necessarily a negative (it actually made the book feel more alive) but it did take a bit of adjustment at first.

Overall, I truly enjoyed this story and can’t wait to dive into the second book to read more about this world and the two main characters.

If you enjoy what I can only describe as Princess Monokoke x ACOTAR x Narnia vibes, I highly recommend you give this a go.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.

EDIT: WTH was that ENDING!?! No. This is ridiculous and boring. I knocked off another star.

I am so conflicted on this book. On the one hand, I loved the idea behind the plot and the magic system. However, I was increasingly frustrated by the lack of depth from the characters themselves. While it was a slow burn, and I really do mean SLOOOOOWWWWW, I did not experience the chemistry between the two characters. There is no build up besides lingering glances, and I just wasn't invested in their relationship. I feel like a lot of the action just did not advance the plot, either. While the situations were somewhat interesting, why did they matter? Perhaps it is just to stretch out the series? To sum it up, I liked the idea of the book, but the execution could use some work.

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. 💫