2 stars

The beginning was really hard for me to get back into. It felt very clunky and I had quite a few issues right off the bat that almost made me want to put the book on hold for a while and try again later.

I wasn't loving Morgan in the first few chapters. She felt like a brat and I've never been one to care about the amount of "fuck"s I read in a book but it felt over the top and unnecessary here. There are other ways to express anger and emotions without saying fuck four times in one paragraph of four sentences. In chapter one she uses fuck 25 times and 180 for the entire book. Her defiance comes off as childish and immature.

I've also never been a fan of the Q&A world building which happens at the beginning of the book. I don't like the miscommunication trope but I don't hate it. That being said, I hated it in this book because it was used to an extreme degree. The MMC is constantly showing up for you and Morgan still had the audacity to act like she hated him.

This book felt very very similar to From Blood and Ash and A Light In The Flame. I would have liked to have seen more originality to the storyline. It's so heavy on the dialgoue and the dialogue isn't strong enough to carry the entire story.

This story has potential but it just needs so much work. I won't be reading the last book which is unfortunate because I did enjoy the first one.

I was super excited to read this as I loved the first book in the series. This one had a ton of court intrigue, though it didn’t feel as gritty. It was very reminiscent of ACOMAF in that we get to see where Draven comes from and meet his crew. We also learn his deep, dark secrets and get some hints as to Morgan’s past as well. I loved reading about the trials that Draven had to go through as well, and Morgan’s first experiences with this new fae reality into which she has been thrown.

This was also a tad spicier than the first, which is always a plus, but it’s definitely a book you should not pick up unless you have read Queen of Roses beforehand.

I did feel that the “oh, he’s not who I thought he was--stabstabstab” went on a little longer than it needed to. I get it, Morgan is far from the people she loves, was unable to safe at least one of her best friends, and her entire kingdom is at war. Plus, yes, of course—the man she trusted with her life and vice versa isn’t exactly who she thought he was on the outside. It’s a difficult situation, so the timing is understandable from a realism perspective, but it felt like it was getting in the way of the plot pacing at points. This was by no means a serious indictment and is only me being picky.

I truly loved the side characters and the new aspects of the story and I will be so excited to explore them when the third book comes out later this fall!

Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and Starwater press for the advanced copy in exchange for this review.

Thank you to the author and publishing house for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Sadly I DNF this book.

I couldn't finish this. I kept pushing through thinking it just had to get better, especially since I enjoyed the first book in the series, but this second book needed an intervention. The writing was...not great...and that's putting it delicately. Morgan is insufferable! I understand the enemies-to-lovers trope and what the author was going for, but there is such a thing as dragging out a trope for WAY TOO LONG.

I did enjoy this book a lot! I think as far as sequels go, it doesn't quite surpass the first book but overall, I'm happy with it!

I pushed through book 1 and man am I happy I did so! This books is 100% more exciting than the first! And yes the first is a must to read for book 2!

I was waiting for the spice to heat up between Draven and Morgan and I was not disappointed one bit! Spice level 🌶️🌶️🌶️!!! I saw it coming but not like this.

Draven is man of secrets and mystery. He’s got that a**hole, morally gray, touch her and d!e vibes and I am here for every second of it! That man is full of secrets and I know more is to come, there just has to be 🤣 That has been his M.O the last 2 books.

Morgan is badass, powerful, stubborn and just a kickass character. I love her strength and will for people to be treated better and treat each other better. I am in awe of her strength in every way. She has dealt with constant lies and secrets and almost everyone taking away her choices and freedom to do what she wants with her life. She has the strength to fight through all of it and still come out compassionate. The secrets and lies are just starting to come apart and I can’t wait to see her story unfold finally.

This story held me captive from start to finish in the best way possible.

Some many secrets! Some much still to be told! I am now going to, patiently, try to wait for book 3!

Definite a must read. ⚠️Check your trigger warnings first! ⚠️

In the sequel to Queen of Roses, Morgan finds herself in the dangerous court of the Siabra and bound to the one man she truly hates. Even though she hates him, Draven is determined to keep her safe no matter the cost.

This is a slow burn enemies to lovers romance and we finally get some steam in this one! I find myself hooked on Morgan and Draven’s story. I can’t wait to read the next one. Thank you Netgalley and Starwater Press for the egalley in exchange for my honest review.

BRIAR! I thought Queen of Roses knocked my socks off, well this one knocked my SHOES AND SOCKS OFF! I can't wait to get my bands on Empress of Fae!

I can't wait to re-read this again, though I wish it could be for the first time again.

Enemies to lovers - CHECK
Found Family - CHECK!
some spice....CHECKK
Touch her and die...okayyyyy ,<3

This is a series you want to dive into! I am so thankful to have stumbled on to it..though it does end in ANOTHER cliffhanger (BRIAR! I thought you learned after the first one haha)

But honestly, if you loved ACOTAR and Hunger Games, you will love this one!
Huge thanks to Starwater Press, Briar Boleyn and NetGalley for the copy of this book

3.5/5
I really enjoyed this one! I did prefer the first book as I felt the plot was personally more interesting but I still enjoyed the sequel. I would definitely recommend this one if you loved the first book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.

4 ⭐️ Im holding out hope Morgan redeems herself.

This book had me hanging on the edge of my seat. Vaguely reminds me of From Blood and Ash. For me it was a constant will they wont they... Morgan says she hates Draven the entier book but he has done everything for her. When the competition for the throne is announced Camelot is essential left behind.

I went through every emotion reading this book. Screaming at Morgan to get it together. Laughing at Beks and all his tricks. And swooning for Draven. The author really put so much effort into making this book and I can't thank her enough for allowing me to read it.

A great sequel to the first book, Queen of Roses, with a lot more smut and chemistry in it than the first book. However, I preferred the tension in Queen of Roses because, to be honest, aside from the romance aspect, the other parts of the book were slightly boring.

This is book two in the Blood of a Fae series. It opens with Morgan awakening to find Draven has brought her to the court of the Siabra, where he is a Prince. The Siabra are a violent and cold race of fae and Morgan is challenged to survive in such a strange environment. This book focuses on Morgan and Draven’s enemies to lover’s relationship, Morgan’s further self discovery and Draven’s participation in the brutal rites to become Emperor. The war being waged by Camelot also weighs heavily on Morgan’s mind and she yearns to return to help her people.

I enjoyed this book even more than the first one. I loved the new characters introduced, both those who support Morgan and those who don’t. The complicated journey Morgan follows in developing her magical skills and in her feelings for Draven kept me reading. The ongoing action and emotions of the story pulled me in while another good cliffhanger ending leaves me ready for book 3!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to review this ARC.

This is the second book in a fantasy series, Blood of Fae, it continues the Arthurian legend retelling and introduces a new setting with fresh characters.

Despite the intense cliffhanger in which the first book ended I couldn't bring myself to finish this book. Morgan became truly insufferable and with an almost kid-like attitude. This was until about half of the book that it started to pick up and some really intense things started to happen. At this point, I was hooked all over again.

As with the previous book, the world-building is complete and it is amazing.

I noticed quite a few people pointing out that this book is spicy but I believe it is quite soft, I think it could have had way more spicy scenes or at least more sexual tension.

thank you to the author and NetGalley for sending me a copy of this ARC

Thank you NetGalley and Starwater Press for sending me an ebook of 'Court of Claws' for review consideration.

Well to start, 'Queen of Roses' (Book 1 in the Blood of a Fae Series) had more of a YA feel. 'Court of Claws' is definitely a New Adult read. The tension was laid in 'Queen of Roses' and the spice level increased significantly in the 'Court of Claws'.

If you are into fae, mythology retellings, strong female leads, and enjoy an enemies to lovers trope - well you’re in luck.

If you are a fan of the 'Blood & Ash' series, the relationship between Poppy & Hawke is similar to the relationship between Morgan & Draven. Where the FMC is drawn to the brute that saved them, but they also have a strong desire to stab them.

The King Arthur mythology took a backseat for a large portion of this novel. Though it did lay the groundwork for Morgan learning more about herself and her abilities.

The book did end with a couple of cliffhangers and I am left wondering when book 3 in the Blood of a Fae series will come out.

I think this series is great for fans of: ACOTAR, Artefacts of Ouranos, Blood & Ash, Hollow Vows, and King of Battle and Blood.

I loved this follow up to "Queen of Roses". I enjoyed getting to know Morgan and Draven on a more personal level. They were the two characters that I felt drawn to and was rooting for in the first story. Aside from the characters, I was excited to see Draven's home/kingdom and learn more in depth about the magic systems in place. I cannot wait for the next book in this series! Thank you to NetGalley and Starwater Press! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

I was provided an ARC from Netgalley for a honest review.

In book two the story follows the continuation of Morgan and Draven, only this time there are trials that need to be won in order to have a new ruler over the people that Draven calls his own. Fight for a better life, rules to be broken and made anew. In its own way it’s also a test for Morgan, trying to navigate her new role, learning about lies and deceit, who she can and can’t trust, and becoming who she is meant to be while finding out who she really is.

This book was a whirled wind of a story. Once I thought I knew what was happening, there would be a twist that I wasn’t expecting. This didn’t happen once or twice but over and over! Hell at this point I don’t even know who I’m cheering for or who I trust besides Morgan! I can’t wait to get my hands on book three when it’s available. This book is also currently available on kindle unlimited. Happy reading!!

4.5 stars rounded down

✨Book Review!✨
“Court Of Claws”
Written By: Briar Boleyn
Published by: Starwater Press
Genre: Fantasy/Romance
•••
Court of Claws is book two of the Blood of a Fae series. In this book,
Morgan Pendragon wakes in an unfamiliar bedroom, in an unfamiliar city, on an unfamiliar continent… and Draven’s paramour. She soon realizes that she was saved from death by Draven and brought to his home to heal. As the weeks pass, Morgan starts to understand that Draven and his people need her more than she could have ever known. Will she stay and help or will she go back to Camelot to help her people survive the wrath of her brother, the king?
•••
Court Of Claws is the dark romantic fantasy you would hope for. Enemies to lovers, magic, really awesome mythical creatures, lots of dramatic fight scenes, found family, a little bit of spice and overall, a well written and thought out story.

Cons- Morgan is way too stubborn. I loved it until toward the end when I wasn’t happy with what happened with a few characters. One of my favorite characters makes an irrational decision that honestly didn’t make much sense to me. It came out of left field and caused my opinion to shift a bit. Then another character I loved dies and I feel like that could have been left out. Because of this, my rating was knocked down from 5 stars to 4.5.

Other than that….this series has been SO GOOD and I cannot wait until I get to read book three!!

1- Characters: 9
2- Atmosphere/Setting: 10
3- Writing Style: 9
4- Plot: 9
5- Intrigue: 10
6- Logic/Relationships: 8
7- Enjoyment: 10

Total Score: 65
65/7 = 9.14
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

This story is epic. It has all the elements of an amazing story and was woven together beautifully. I particularly love the found family aspect for Morgan, and the slow burning love with Draven. I will not give things away, but there are some truly outstanding revelations that come out in this book. I cannot wait to see what happens next!

"Court of Claws" penned by Briar Boleyn is a spellbinding addition to her repertoire, delivering readers into a realm of fantasy and magic that enchants from start to finish. This gripping novel takes readers on a journey through a world teeming with mystical creatures and intricate political webs.

Boleyn's writing effortlessly transports readers to the Court of Claws, a realm brimming with both beauty and danger. The intricate world-building is a testament to the author's creative prowess, immersing readers in a fantastical universe that feels both vividly real and wholly enchanting.

At the heart of the story is a protagonist who navigates the complex dynamics of the court, where alliances can shift as swiftly as the wind. The heroine's resilience and wit shine as she treads the fine line between survival and ambition. The tension between her desires and the demands of her circumstances creates a compelling character arc that keeps readers invested in her journey.

Romance, intrigue, and action intertwine seamlessly in "Court of Claws," drawing readers deeper into the narrative with every turn of the page. Boleyn's ability to craft multifaceted relationships, whether of friendship, rivalry, or love, adds depth and complexity to the story, making it resonate on multiple levels.

As a master storyteller, Briar Boleyn weaves a tale that captivates the imagination and leaves readers hungry for more. "Court of Claws" is a remarkable achievement in the fantasy genre, showcasing the author's skill at crafting intricate worlds, dynamic characters, and engaging plots. This book is a must-read for any lover of fantasy fiction seeking an immersive and enthralling escape.

Court of Claws ARC Review :)

Thank you to NetGalley, Starwater Press and Briar Boleyn for ARC copies of Queen of Roses and Court of Claws!

I love a deadly competition and got so excited when the book started with one. I really liked the first book in the series but I LOVED this one. The pace was great and there were a lot of unexpected twists that had me determined to find out what happened next. Draven is a captivating morally grey MMC with a filthy mouth. The side characters were all wonderful, especially the fantastic beasts and Beks. Sometimes I struggled with Morgan and didn't understand her points of view at all, but I'm hoping that changes in book three. I can't wait to see what happens next!

Enemies to lovers ♥️
Slow burn 🔥
Gore and Action ⚔️
Forced proximity 😏
Praise 🙏🏼
Spice 🌶️
Touch her and 💀
Unexpected power 🪄