4 ⭐️

It's been a while since I've read a series that's a true slow burn, I've missed it. This is definitely giving all the vibes of a romance that's going to take a while to develop.

I wasn't expecting this to be a camelot reimagining, but I enjoyed that aspect, and lancelet quickly became a character I liked. Morgan having that female friendship is important in showing us a bit more of her personality and providing some lighter moments.

As far as the plot goes, I felt this was really well paced. Sometimes books with a journey in can drag, but there's enough happening that i never felt bored.

I thought i had predicted the plot twist, but then that last chapter happened now. I can't wait to pick the next one up. I'm hoping we're going to get some much needed world building on the magic system going forward as it's unclear at the moment.

I received an advance review copy of this book, and this review represents my honest opinion. Thank you to netgalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

In this captivating tale, the author weaves a beautifully intricate world filled with magic, adventure, and an undeniable chemistry between the protagonists. From the very first page, readers are drawn into a richly imagined landscape where the stakes are high, and love transcends boundaries.

The characters are delightfully complex, each facing their own trials and transformations. Their journey is not just about romance; it’s about self-discovery and the courage to embrace one’s true self. The chemistry between them crackles with tension, making every shared moment feel electric and deeply meaningful.

The plot is expertly crafted, balancing moments of heart-pounding action with tender, intimate scenes that linger long after the book is closed. The author’s lyrical prose brings the settings to life, allowing readers to fully immerse themselves in the beauty and danger of this enchanting world.

Overall, this book is a delightful escape that deftly combines elements of fantasy and romance. It’s a testament to the power of love and the strength found in vulnerability. Perfect for fans of the genre, it’s a story that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the final page. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a magical journey of the heart!

Check your trigger warnings for this one! That aside, this book is perfect if you’re looking for a spicy Romantasy. I really enjoyed this book and it just got better as the book went on. The world building was captivating. After that cliffhanger I’m so ready for book 2!

Queen of Roses was okay, but if there hadn't been the 2nd and 3rd book out when I picked it up, it wouldn't have been memorable enough for me to come back and revisit the series later down the road. The Merlin retelling was different compared to other retellings, but I was just so mad at what happened in the end.

The premise is brilliant, but the way it is carried out is so underwhelming. The storyline is predictable, the characters are underdeveloped, and there is little depth. Much more could have been done with the writing. I could not complete this book because of the uncomfortable way the author described the dialogue. It feels awkward.

Thank you to Netgalley and Starwater Press for the e-arc.

I've thoroughly enjoyed this book and the subsequent ones in the series. The author's writing style is captivating and immediately draws you in. The unique twist on the retelling adds excitement while maintaining a sense of familiarity. The world-building is skillfully integrated, enhancing the story without bogging it down with unnecessary details. Overall, it's been a delightful read!

at first thought, i assumed it would be a basic fantasy book but bro you dont know what you're missing out on!! the entirety of this book I could relate to morgan so much, ALL the men in her life had taken advantage of her, abusing her, humiliating her, SAing her and all sorts of bullcrap. her response to this was the extremely realistic!!

the writing for this was extremely easy to read, i didn't feel like i was forcing myself to keep going because it was continuously interesting.

Unfortunately this one just wasn’t for me. I couldn’t get into the world building and didn’t vibe with the characters. I know avid fantasy readers would probably love it though. I am sad I didn’t love it but we can’t win them all.

I enjoyed this book. I was hooked form the very beginning and can't wait to continue the series. Thank you for letting me read it.

Love love love this book and starting book 2 right after this review!!

This is an Arthurian retelling, but with a twist. The way this authors changes up the characters from the stories we know so well gives a fresh take on it that I really enjoyed. It was a whole new story on its own and I devoured it!! This story has so much world building without making me feel overwhelmed and I felt I was there the entire time. Draven was my favorite the moment he walked and then the moment he Who did this to you, you just knew he was the one! My favorite part of this book was reading about Morgan and learning who she is and the strength she finds within herself. And then that ending omg I have to go now to read to know what happens next!!!

Camelot retelling with fae twist.

It has potential tho I might say Book 1 is a bit draggy and it only gets interesting in Book 2. Only that I wish there were more character's depths and their development. I just couldn't sense the chemistry between Morgan and her friends, or Morgan with Kaye.

But you know what, I am totally invested in this series.

Thank you NetGalley & publisher for this eARC.

"Queen of Roses" offers an intriguing blend of fantasy elements, with a doomed love story and a kingdom on the brink of war. While the slow-burn romance and morally gray characters add depth, the story may be challenging for some due to mature content. Overall, a promising start to a new series.

I was so excited to read this but this is not actually the book? i don’t know what happened this is not even a blurb. i’m going to read it on kindle unlimited since i’ve seen it’s available. in the meantime i’ll leave a prediction rating

Um hello!!!

I absolutely ADORED thins book. The plot, the characters, the worldbuilding! It was a beautifully written book that I thoroughly enjoyed.


4.5/5 stars
Thank you Netgalley for providing me this arc

From the world-building to the character development, the plot twists, and everything in between, this book had me captivated from the beginning. I cannot wait to see what else is in store for Morgan and Drave

Thank you to Starwater Press and NetGalley for this E-book.

Usually I’m not super into fantasy books but this is amazing.
In the beginning there’s a trigger warnings page, it says ignore if you don’t think you have specific triggers, so I of course ignored!
There’s also a map which I LOVE.
Then the best part for me is the pronunciation page! I love that the author did that. Instead of me wildly guessing how to pronounce certain names it was laid out for me!

I am super excited to finish the rest of these book. I love a book where the FMC is a badass.

And Morgan is definitely that. She is the oldest sister of the royal family. She also happens to be part fae.
Her brother sends her on a dangerous journey to retrieve something for him and that’s mostly what this book is about. I’ve heard a few times that the first book in a fantasy series is a lot of world building and I can see that in this book. That’s not to say that it’s not packed with suspense, romance and murder.

It ends on somewhat of a cliffhanger so I can’t wait to dive right into the next one!

Great book!

"Queen of Roses" by Briar Boleyn weaves a tale of doomed love, dangerous missions, and a kingdom teetering on the brink of war.

Morgan Pendragon, a princess born into a life of duty and sacrifice, has never had control over her own destiny. With rumors swirling about her tainted fae bloodline, Morgan's birthright is stolen from her at a young age, leaving her destined to be sacrificed to the goddesses upon reaching maturity. However, when her brother tasks her with retrieving a legendary fae weapon, Morgan sees an opportunity to break free from the chains of her predetermined fate.

As Morgan embarks on her mission, she finds herself drawn to a group of outcasts led by a mysterious warrior whose allure captivates her. Despite her growing attraction, Morgan must navigate the complexities of duty and desire as she delves deeper into the dangerous world of the fae.

Meanwhile, a long-dormant fae kingdom begins to stir, threatening to plunge the realm into chaos and bloodshed. As Morgan uncovers the truth about her heritage and the secrets hidden within her blood, she realizes that she may hold the key to preventing a devastating conflict.

"Queen of Roses" is the first installment in an enthralling series filled with magic, intrigue, and romance. Fans of Holly Black, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and Sarah J. Maas will be spellbound by this thrilling tale of adventure and forbidden love.

To be very honest, I had very high hopes for this book and was disappointed for the most part. I also want to say I am not very familiar/interested in the story of King Arthur, maybe that is one thing that threw me off, but I did enjoy some parts. Here are my main thoughts on the book:
I really liked Morgan's character: she is a strong FMC, and I loved the growth and strength she showed throughout the book.
I also loved her relationship with Kaye, her compassion to Arthur even though he didn't deserve it. I loved that she was an unreliable narrator as that kept things interesting.
Morgan & Kairos: I really wish there was a more concrete story around their relationship as the book was marketed as a "dark romance" but felt more like a slow burn and the spice was mid at best.
The story was very slow at first, I considered DNFing at some points, but I do not enjoy DNFing books. At about the 50%-point things got a little interesting but I was confused because things were everywhere, it seemed like we were getting breadcrumbs but too many at the same time that it took away from the current story.
The ending was *chef's kiss* I honestly think that was the only thing other than 1-2 other scenes that I truly enjoyed; it was a very intriguing ending.

I loved the idea of this book but it felt like something was missing. King Arthur's court with Fae?! Sing me up! I just wish it had a bit more character development.

Morgan is a part-fae princess whose father, the king, deemed her unfit to rule Camelot. Instead he named her half brother, Arthur, as his heir. Arthur is now king and seems to be turning more and more cruel every day, following in their father’s footsteps. Arthur sends Morgan on a mission to the deserted fae lands to retrieve Excalibur. While the mission itself could be dangerous, she is also being sent with a hired assassin as her guard.

This book reminded me a bit of Blood and Ash and Game of Thrones, but unfortunately not as good. I’m intrigued by the storyline, but the book ended with more questions than answers. It seems more of a setup for the rest of the series than something worthwhile on its own. The ratings continue to increase with each book, so I’m going to give book 2 a try.