This one took me the longest to read, probably because I wanted to savor every sentence, every word. Ashley Metzler, you are a brilliant wordsmith of immense talent. There are no others like you. I am sad to have this series ended, but wow what a culminating finale. The trials of Aisling and Lir to find the goblet pulled at my heart every time I thought Ash would free herself of the belt. What a headspin!

Interested to see how a rebrand works in your favor. These books belong in a museum for people to study. Better than Shakespeare's Midsummer could ever dream to be!

Thank you to NetGalley and Second Sky for providing me with an ARC of "The Forever Queen".

"The Forever Queen" by Ashley Metzler

I had high expectations for this third installment, especially after enjoying the first two books, but unfortunately, the story didn't live up to them. The issue wasn't with the author's writing, as I continue to appreciate her vivid descriptions and world-building. Rather, it was the storyline that let me down. Lir remains a steadfast hero, constantly showing his love for Aisling as she loses her memories of him, but this arc began to feel repetitive and frustrating. The plot seemed to drag on, losing its momentum. One of the highlights of this series has always been the supporting characters, but in this book, they were almost nonexistent, which was disappointing.

While the ending provides some closure, it feels rushed, and I was left feeling sad and underwhelmed by how everything wrapped up.

I thought The Forever Queen would finally give me the connection and heartfelt moments I have been waiting all series for between Aisling and Lir but unfortunately it didn't happen. I felt a bit cheated when it came to the romance aspect between the two of them. We got a short union and celebration that quickly turned to chaos, then was basically thrown into everyone on another journey searching for a Goblet. Andril took possession of Aisling making her forget Lir and their past basically the whole story. The journey brings more deaths, threats, loss, and everything that brought me farther from the romance between Aisling and Lir that I was hoping for. I was looking forward to their romance and a HEA and although this book had a touch of a sweet ending, it was the furthest thing from that. After reading three books and finally hoping for their HEA after everything they went through, the ending was disappointing. To be honest, if I had known this series would have ended like this, I would have skipped it. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed the two previous books in this series, but this one slow, there was little to no romance and the ending left me disappointed.

Thank you NetGalley and Second Sky for providing me with an ARC of The Forever Queen.

Compared to the first two books, this one didn’t quite live up to my expectations. I was eager to see Lir and Aisling’s chemistry shine, but it felt almost nonexistent. That said, I did love Lir’s unwavering commitment to Aisling, despite Aisling losing some of her memories and forgetting Lir entirely - my heart broke for him.

I had hoped Lir and Aisling would get their happily ever after, but alas, that was not the case and the ending left me confused and wondering if I missed something. I felt the ending was rushed and that Lir and Aisling didn’t get a fair ending.

Despite these issues, the writing itself is stunning - and some of the best I’ve read. Overall I’ve enjoyed the series and look forward to more from the author.

The first two books were absolutely amazing. This one left me heartbroken for the way it ended. I was hopeful for things to be different. This whole book Lir was devoted to Asling the whole while she was doing things that broke his heart. She donned this belt that took over her and really messed with her mind and memories. There was so much that I wanted for this last book and I was a little let down. I was given an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and Second Sky for providing me an ARC copy of The Forever Queen

Compared to books one and two of the Aisling trilogy this one was just okay. I was expecting a lot more from this book and sadly it just missed the mark a little for me. I’ll start with the good first though! I believe Ashley’s writing is some of the most beautiful and descriptive writing I’ve ever read. Every scene she paints so beautifully and the world she created for this book is stunning and I constantly wish I could live there.

I loved Lir in this book and the way he loved Aisling through everything made my heart burst but also made my heart break a little. This story truly was a story of loving someone through everything and Lir proved that a thousand times over.

I liked Aisling in this book I just wish we would’ve gotten a little more from her. The belt plot got frustrating and genuinely felt like it just lasted too long for my liking. I understand the reason I think but I wish it wouldn’t have been a thing, I didn’t really like feeling like we were back at square one after everything that had already happened.

I really really wish we would’ve gotten more of Lir and Aisling being “together” they were physically together for most of the book but their relationship was pretty much non existent until the end of the book, it was all just more of the same “I hate you but I’m pulled to you” type of thing and I was really hoping to see Aisling and Lir in love and being with one another in that capacity.

The side characters, though really amazing and I love them so much, weren’t really present for this book and I missed them a lot. Unfortunately, the end felt insanely rushed I mean the main event of the book happened in the last 10% and then it was just over?? And the actual ending was absolutely gut wrenching even though it was bittersweet

All in all I’d give this book 3 stars, it was okay, I’m glad I read it and I enjoyed the series as a whole for the most part. I will miss Lir and Aisling and the world a lot though.

Beautiful writing as always! This finale however didn’t grip me like the other two books did, it felt a bit disjointed maybe? I’m not entirely sure, but without giving any spoilers, I’ll just say I thoroughly enjoyed this trilogy and I’m grateful to have read all three, even if book one and two were my favs.

ARC read- releases May 16, 2025

In the final book of Aisling’s story she must gain the Gods favor in order to save her new home and end what was once her clann. What she doesn’t know is that it will cost her the King, her King. With no memory of who he is to her she must fight to save everything and everyone that she thought she could never love- by destroying the ones she used to love.

🌿👑🔥

I had such high hopes for this book. I loved the first and adored the second but I hate to say that I’m disappointed with this one. Not only is the ending rushed but it also just wasn’t satisfying. It makes sense but doesn’t at the same time. I get it but I don’t.

The whole memory thing goes on for the majority of the book, which I felt was too long. Aisling losing parts of her memory made her act just like she did in the first book and it felt really repetitive to me- I didn’t like the back tracking.

The first few chapters felt rushed and I felt lost most of the time. The next 3/4 of the book drags on with the same plot points and same memory issues but then the ending just happens. The end felt so incredibly rushed, I literally had to reread the last few chapters multiple times because I thought I missed something. I didn’t understand (and still don’t) how it ended, especially because I feel like there’s a lot left unanswered.

As much as this was supposed to be a series about Aisling, the last book really only felt like it was about Lir (who I adore but I feel like the last book should have been more focused on Ash). Not to mention the side characters that are so well developed in the first two books, who are barely in the last one at all.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC- I received this eARC for free and all of my opinions are my own

What a way to end an absolutely stunning trilogy! I am devastated in the best of ways.

This finale comes full circle from the beginning of Aisling’s journey through her honoring her duty to her family, to her self discovery, her empowerment, finding love & of sacrifice. My heart aches for these characters and what they endure throughout.

Aisling & Lir’s captivating slow but bright burning love is enthralling. How interwoven their distain and admiration for each other was done beautifully. We do see less of most of the side characters in this last installment , but when they have their spotlight they shine brilliantly.

As with the first two books Ashley’s writing is stunningly detailed. Transporting you into the Greenwoods & the Otherworld along side Aisling & Lir. Of Which, Lir’s POV chapters were devastatingly heart wrenching.

I honestly do not think it is humanly possible for me to love this series anymore than I do. At the moment I anticipate rejoining this world once I get my hands on the audiobooks.

I really enjoyed the other books in the series and this one was the perfect way to finish off the trilogy. Throughout the books i really came to love the characters and their storylines. I do recommend to anyone who wants to read something like this!

The Forever Queen is the final installment in the trilogy, and I went into it with exceptionally high hopes, especially given how phenomenal the first two books were. I was fully prepared to be blown away once again. However, as much as I wanted to love it, I have to admit it didn’t quite meet my expectations.

One of the main issues for me was the confusion surrounding the plot. It felt like it veered off in an unexpected direction, and not necessarily in a way that felt rewarding or satisfying. This shift left me feeling a bit disconnected, as it wasn’t the journey I had anticipated or hoped for based on the earlier books.

That said, I still have immense affection for these characters. They’ve been beautifully crafted throughout the series, and their stories have resonated with me deeply. Even in this book, their voices remained compelling, and I found myself rooting for them just as passionately as I did in the first two novels.

As always, the author’s writing style was stunning. The prose carried its signature beauty, and there were moments of brilliance that reminded me why I fell in love with this series in the first place. Unfortunately, despite the elegance of the writing, it didn’t have the same gripping effect that the previous books achieved. It lacked the emotional pull and the narrative momentum that had made the earlier parts of the trilogy so extraordinary.

Overall, while The Forever Queen didn’t quite reach the heights I’d hoped for, I still appreciate the journey it provided and the way it tied up certain aspects of the story. It may not have been the conclusion I dreamed of, but it still held moments that made the experience worthwhile. I’ll continue to cherish the trilogy as a whole, even if this final chapter fell a little short for me.

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

I was really looking forward it the conclusion of this trilogy after the first two books, but unfortunately did not quite feel the same love for this finale. Perhaps it's because I did the first two books on audio but read this one on kindle, but it felt like parts of the story slow and repetitive, and I often found myself not as invested as I wanted to be. After some of the pacing felt slow throughout the book, suddenly the ending felt quite rushed and disjointed.

Despite all that, there were still aspects that I really did love. Ashley's writing is beautiful, and as such it wasn't too hard to pick up and finish. There were some character arcs I really enjoyed and actually wished we got more of. There were some heartfelt emotional moment throughout also.

I'm glad I have read the conclusion for the series, but it unfortunately didn't quite live up to my expectations.

Wow what an ending!! I'll say no more so I don't spoil it for readers but this ending was unexpected for me.

As the final book in this trilogy, there were some times where the plot became a little confusing but stick to it and it becomes clear.

I loved that we got to see a lot more of Lir in this book. As MMC's go, he's high up there for me. in this book he shows his dedication and love for Aisling, even though she doesn't remember loving him.

If you enjoy Fae world, magic and enemies to lovers give this trilogy a go!

My 5 star rating relates to how much I enjoyed the trilogy as a whole.

I really enjoyed book one so much and had such high hopes for this series. I enjoyed book two but it left me feeling disappointed, and unfortunately this book lost me entirely. I still appreciate Ashley’s beautiful writing and her ability to create such a beautiful world. But certain plot lines didn’t feel necessary and some completely confused me and didn’t make sense. I feel like the romance between Lir and Aisling was pretty much non existent throughout this whole series. We would get bread crumbs and tension but nothing would ever come of it, and when it did, it was taken away. This book felt like we went backwards and I was personally hoping for something different.

I would have loved to see Lir and Ash work together with their magic to face the mortals in the war and to see them explore and navigate their relationship since they finally came together at the end of book two. Instead, the whole plot revolved around Ash and this belt that took over her mind and made her forget/hate Lir. The whole purpose of this belt, to help Ash be able to wield a sword to fight the mortals, which she didn’t even end up doing. And we didn’t get the ending I was hoping for, which I will not say so I do not spoil anything.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the eARC of this book!

A beautifully written, high-fantasy romance book. I absolutely adore this writing style as it allows the reader to be fully immersed in an other-worldly setting.

This book was PAINFUL. My heart HURTS. Aisling and Lir have secured themselves a spot as one of my all-time favourite couplings. However, Lir goes THROUGH IT in this book and he deserves justice.

Whilst some of the plot lines in this book felt a little annoying, I still loved reading this. The epilogue however… I’m sad and a little disappointed it ended like this just because it HURT ME

Forever Queen is a tender, melancholic finale—emotional, introspective, and heavy with grief and transformation. The heroine we met at the beginning of the series is no longer the same, and this final chapter tries to reflect the cost of that evolution.

That said, this third book didn’t quite resonate with me as much as I had hoped. The rhythm at times weighed down the momentum, and I found myself occasionally struggling to stay fully immersed. Aisling’s persistent internal fog and emotional turmoil, though thematically appropriate, began to feel repetitive and distanced me from her arc rather than deepening it.

Still, there are moments of true beauty: quiet grief, strength in softness, a love that grows through weariness rather than fireworks. It’s a story of healing, of endurance, and of reclaiming one’s voice after loss. It’s softer than the previous books, more subdued in tone—but still filled with meaning.

Tropes:

Queen reclaiming herself

Grief and healing arc

Battle-worn romance

Strength in vulnerability

Found family & loyalty over legacy


A quiet, introspective ending to a powerful series. For me, it didn’t hit as hard emotionally due to the pacing and the mental fog that lingered too long—but it still offered a poetic and thoughtful close to Aisling’s story.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐½ / 5

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I was so excited for the conclusion of this series. I loved book 1, but unfortunately felt the series went downhill. This book was a bit dense and took me a while to get into. The last 1/3 of the book was when the pace picked up and I was finally invested in the story. After this point, things moved very fast and it was almost too fast.

The side characters were absent most of this book, which left me wishing for the banter that usually occurred within the group.

I do love the magic and the author of this book series and would definitely read other works by her, but this book just wasn’t my favorite. I also enjoyed the continued development of Aisling and her family working on opposing sides of the war.

Tropes:
Familial betrayal
Unique Magic
Prophecy completion
Forbidden Love
Magical quest

Aisling was facing an inner battle against a foreign object that was taking over her mind for the majority of this book. Which deeply affected the relationship between Lir and Aisling. She spent the majority of the book hating him, but also being confused as to why she hated him. This was definitely something I did not enjoy. Possession is one of my least favorite tropes and the inner battle felt similar to possession.

Aisling and Lir get their happy ending…kinda. The ending made sense with the storyline, despite being a little sad and not what I wanted for them.

Thank you for the Arc NetGalley!

I was a bit hesitant in the beginning of the book, i have read book one and two and they where instant 5 start read. Felt there was something missing but then it grew on me. It to a turn that i really didn’t think and it’s refreshing to res a story that you can entirely predict.

Lir and Aisling gives Drogo and Khaleesi vibes.
The side-characters and world a bit Narnia with the talking animals and trees.

Highly recommend this trilogy!

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

I had high hopes for the conclusion of this trilogy after thoroughly enjoying the first two books, but sadly, this final installment fell short for me. It felt like it strayed away from the story we were following in the earlier books, leaving me confused and disappointed.

One of the biggest challenges I faced was the inclusion of a particular plot line that I personally struggled with, which dampened my enjoyment of the story. Without spoiling, I’ll just say it had to do with a particular magical belt. While I appreciated some aspects, such as Lir’s chapters, other parts felt slow and repetitive, and I often found myself frustrated.

Pacing was another issue for me. The book had moments that dragged, with the story taking a long time to pick up, but the ending felt rushed and lacked the satisfying conclusion I was looking forward to. The previous books were fast-paced and engaging, but this one felt disjointed in comparison.

The romance also felt disconnected and lacking an emotional depth which was largely due to what Aisling was going through in this book. Moments that should’ve been impactful were overshadowed by other plot elements which made it hard for me to stay invested or left me feeling incredibly annoyed.

Despite my disappointment, there were still some enjoyable elements, including a few well-written character arcs and intriguing moments. However, as a whole, this book didn’t meet my expectations, and I ended the series feeling let down.

3/5⭐️ I was SO excited for this one and if I’m being honest, it just did not live up to my expectations. It had such a slow start that I was not anticipating since the first 2 books were 5⭐️ reads for me! It was still a nice ending to the trilogy. I found that I didn’t love Aisling as much in this book, and maybe that was partly due to Anduril. That stupid belt was getting on my last nerve. Lir was the star of the show for me. He can do no wrong. It was so nice to see him continue to fight for Aisling and defending her throughout the book. Overall this was a great trilogy!

Thank you to Ashley Metzler, Second Sky publishing, and NetGalley for the ARC.