I have just finished this buddy read with a group of girls and safe to say I loved it! It was magical, dark, slow burn, and wow what an ending! I can’t wait to dive into book 2! Thank you so much to Briar Boleyn and NetGalley for the opportunity to dive into this fantastical series.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for proving a copy in exchange for a review!

Queen of Roses is a dark fantasy retelling of Shakespeare’s Camelot with a sprinkle of romance. In this version, the author chooses to make King Arthur the villain and his sister Morgan, who is part fae, the hero who receives the quest to find the sword. Morgan must complete this mission with the help of Draven, an infuriatingly handsome, cocky royal guard who easily gets under her skin. After avoid assassination attempts, growing their band of allies, and facing monsters in the dangerous lands leading to the legendary sword, Morgan must face betrayal and choose whether or not to bring back a weapon of destruction to a power hungry king in order to protect those she cares for. The setting and plot taking inspiration from Camelot is something I haven’t seen in a fantasy, but everything was still fresh and unique with the fae and magical elements. I really enjoyed Morgan as a character and I’m very invested in Draven’s further character development. The ending was super intense and begins to reveal some potentially interesting plot points for the next book. Overall, Queen of Roses is a great dark fantasy but I wish there was a little bit more romance.

That ending was so harsh!!! I need to dive straight into the next book now!

I wanted a faster pace for the first half of the book but when things picked up, it all kicked off! I thought certain character actions were a bit predictable but I enjoyed the read and definitely want to know what happens next!

3.5 stars

"The Queen of Roses" by Briar Boleyn is a captivating and imaginative retelling of the Arthurian legend, focusing on Morgan le Fey. In this enthralling tale, we follow Morgan Pendragon, a princess who has been cast aside due to her fae lineage. When her brother, King Arthur, issues a royal decree, Morgan is entrusted with a crucial mission—to retrieve a fae weapon of unparalleled power. Throughout her extraordinary adventure, Morgan finds herself accompanied by the enigmatic and occasionally exasperating royal guard, Kairos Draven. Together, they navigate a world teeming with mystique, peril, and unexpected twists, forging an unforgettable narrative that seamlessly combines magic and destiny.

I was absolutely captivated from the very first chapter. The portrayal of Morgan's heartbreaking past, particularly the profound loss of her mother, instantly captivated my attention. It masterfully laid the groundwork for the entire plot, evoking a sense of intrigue that compelled me to delve further into the story. The unique and captivating aspects of this retelling were a true delight. I especially enjoyed the clever twists on the Arthurian legend, such as the intriguing portrayal of an evil King Arthur, the gender swap of Merlin and Lancelot, and the inclusion of the enchanting fae. These elements added an exciting and fresh dimension to the narrative, keeping me engrossed throughout.

The romance in the story was exceptional, delivering a delightful slow burn that had me squealing with joy on multiple occasions. The morally grey nature of the male main character (MMC) added a fascinating layer of depth to the story, which I absolutely adored. The banter between the MMC and the female main character (FMC) was brilliantly witty and immensely enjoyable to read. Moreover, the pacing of the narrative was flawlessly executed, never once feeling sluggish or dragging.

The world-building in the book was great, with a particular highlight being the intriguing exploration of the Three and the other gods. However, I must admit that there were instances, particularly towards the end of the book, where the world-building felt like a bit of an info dump. Additionally, I noticed a few grammar and spelling errors that went unaddressed. These instances briefly disrupted my immersion in the story, but overall, it did not significantly diminish my enjoyment.

Overall, I found this novel to be a thoroughly enjoyable read, and I am eager to continue the series, especially after being left on an unexpected cliffhanger. The book was packed with betrayal, intrigue, and surprising plot twists. I wholeheartedly would recommend this book to those seeking a unique fantasy romance with intriguing world-building and captivating characters.

Posting on Goodreads: @bookswithdanica 7/9/2023
Posting on Instagram: @bookswithdanica ~7/10 - 7/15

I immediately put my kindle down to write this review, but right now the only words I can think of are WHAT THE HECK?!!
This book is a Camelot, Excalibur dark romance fantasy retelling.
The first part of the book was a little slower, but I feel like most good fantasies require some sort of world building. The amount of detail was just enough to make you get drawn in without getting overly confused.
The amount of times I was flabbergasted in the second book is ungodly. I had so many questions running through my head. You’d think the story is going one way and then BOOM! Just kidding, plot twist. Also…I don’t appreciate scenes making my eyes water, it’s rude lol.
I still have so many questions, so I will be starting Court of Claws now.
#QueenofRoses #NetGalley

This book was written well and had a decent plot line that I would be more interested in if it wasn’t heavy on the romance. There has been a major shift recently from fantasy books to romance with fantasy elements, and sometimes I feel like the books are lacking the originality that comes from the fantasy genre. This was a good romance novel, just not exactly what I’m looking for when it comes to a fantasy romance.

Thank you Netgalley and the author for approving me for a copy of Queen of Roses in exchange for an honest review! All points in this review are my personal opinion. This will be generally spoiler free!

There’s been some hype surrounding this book flowing through the Book instagram community. Naturally, I took a gander at the description and interest was hooked - I am a sucker for Arthurian legend retellings.

And a retelling this is. Everything you know and are familiar with when it comes to Arthurian legends is upended and turned on its head with a fae twist to it. I honestly didn’t hate it. It’s incredibly refreshing to read a re-telling that isn’t just cut and paste of the original tale with Fae elements added. The story, the world, the people - they all felt original while still holding true to that magical and mythical Arthurian tale feeling.

Pros: I appreciate the mundane world the author creates with her prose. It’s clear magic was once apart of this world, but has since long faded away. It’s still there, a haunting remnant of a magical age long since passed. There are bits and pieces of magic that appear - eloquently captured by the author and giving credit to the sadness of magic vanishing.

I love the plot. The story itself is easy to read and drives forward at a practical pace. The story points are clearly plotted out and keep the reader pushing forward with the right amount of reveals and promises of more to come. It trots along at a very comfortable pace. Answers lead to more questions and that kept the pages turning. Seriously, excellent job in finding a comfortable story telling pace and rhythm.

The villain: I normally do not like villains who are dicks just to be dicks. But the way this is set up to portray “cycle of violence” often seen in families with domestic abuse, it makes sense. The actions he takes, the choices he makes, the manipulation of the FMC… all of it makes sense and it works very well together. It all builds up and none of it really felt too out there for me. I found the author handled him and his development well, especially since this type of villain can be a tricky trope to do properly.

Off the back of that, characters are pretty black and white: those you are to love, you love. Those you are to hate, you absolutely loathe and can’t wait to see how karma exacts revenge. It’s satisfying when you get to witness their just desserts.

Cons: I, personally, struggled with the main character. I don’t mind the whole trope of naive characters who have to go through a journey to grow up and become a badass queen - but this FMC takes being naive to a whole new level. Like at some point in her journey she has to realize the lies she’s been told and the actual truth of the world and people around her, but no. Even at 85% through the book she STILL hasn’t put two and two together. It made her feel flat, one dimensional. Where’s the character arch? Where’s the growth? She’s been on this long journey and been through some shit and she’s still remaining willfully ignorant.

The other characters I liked much better - despite them also falling into the same pitfall of being a bit one dimensional. My biggest gripe with the other characters is the fact that the characters who are the LGBT representatives in this story are pushed TOO hard as being the LGBT representatives. Yes, we know, she loves women. We don’t need to be reminded every time she appears or is mentioned. It makes the representation feel a bit on the token side.

Content warning side: The first 50% of the book was rough with how much abuse there is. If sexual abuse, physical abuse, child abuse, and domestic abuse are triggers for you, proceed with caution. I can usually handle darker themes, especially since they usually serve a purpose to the story. But even I struggled with the portions that dealt with the abuse the FMC goes through - especially since the abuse seemed to serve no purpose plot-wise. It just doesn’t even seem to impact her much, despite the horrific acts she’s endured/witnessed. It sits oddly with me.

Despite the cons and my struggles with the FMC, I actually really enjoyed this book. The plot has me hooked and I will absolutely be continuing on to the next book to read. I’m hoping that more as the tale continues through the next books that we will see character growth - especially in the FMC. The reveals at the end have me excited to continue!

All in all, this was a pretty solid 3.5 star read for me. Thanks again Netgalley and author for a fun read! I’m excited to dive into the next one.

What an interesting read! Very loosely inspired by King Arthur and the legends of Camelot, with a very surprising fae world mixed in, Queen of Roses was quite a ride!
First off, let me say I didn't like the jerky beginning of the book. The first handful of chapters were not smooth sailing, but the rhythm and world-building got better afterwards.
Morgan was an interesting character. She suffered a lot and she knows very little about herself. Her journey throughout the book was a lot more about discovering herself than the actual quest she set upon.
I loved Draven and I am still holding my breath regarding him, I honestly can't wait to see where book 2 will lead us.
Honestly, the first part of the book was dragging a bit, the second part was engrossing, and THE END... OMG that was a killer. So many surprises in so few pages.
Also, just a side-note, don't go in hoping for spice. There's one very slightly spicy scene that would be mild enough for YA books.

I received a free copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely LOVED this book. Its a dark romance retelling of the story of King Arthur and Camelot. This was a great first book and I can't wait to read the next one!

I'm a big lover of YA fantasy and this original re-telling of Arthur and his half sister Morgana Pendragon was a perfect mix for me. The story line left me reading until midnight not wanting to put the book down to find out what happened next. Action, strong female characters, magic, fae twists and a slow burn romance? Yes please! Can't wait to see where the story goes in book number 2!

Thank you to NetGalley for this book in exchange for an honest review ☺️
Loved the overall story, I felt like some parts were a bit longer than they needed to be but then the end really sped up. I wanted to see a bit more character development from Morgan however she is a really likeable MC and her relationships with the rest of the characters were great. Really enjoyed the Camelot crossed with fae aspect felt like it was really unique and can’t wait to see what’s going to happen in book 2 ☺️

This is an interesting take on the world of Camelot that features mythical creatures including faes. In Morgan Pendragon, a queen by birth whose lineage nonetheless bars her from the throne we have a strong heroine who's determined to do right by her people. But will she have what it takes to defy her half-brother Arthur (previously known as Uther) who's followed in the violent footsteps of their father? Added to the mix is notorious mercenary, Draven aka Void's Edge who seems to have two conflicting duties - to save Morgan only to eventually kill her. A fun, adventurous read.

This was a good read! It is a King Arthur retelling that includes Fae. I’m not always big on retellings but the characters and world building kept me intrigued. I mostly liked Morgan, the main character, but I wanted to shake her for a couple of her very dumb choices. It was clear to the reader that she was walking into a trap but she did it anyway, which made me lose some respect for the character. At the same time, it is probably more realistic that way than to have the MC be perfect. The pacing was solid though a couple of times the inner monologue got to be a bit long. I really like Draven and look forward to finding out more about him in the next book! There was a nice twist at the end and I’m diving into the next book now! Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the copy of this book!

I wished I could have rated this book higher but alas, not. First of all, I'm a big fan of Arthurian lore (I remember reading Les Dames du Lac serie at 17 and loving it so so much) and when I read the resume, I was super excited and sold on the idea of discovering a retelling of Camelot. Let's be clear, it's a very loose retelling of Arthur's Legend. In general, I found the story interesting but too predictable and slow (nothing much happen in my opinion).
But my major issues were that the main characters felt a bit too flat (Morgan was so naive, how could she be 20??), I didn't really engage with the relationship between Morgan and Draven and the writing put me off sometimes (I found some grammar issues - I'm also not a native speaker so I don't know, maybe it's me -, there was just SO MUCH repetition and the genre was switching weirdly between naive almost childish to cruel and blunt description of beheading and disgusting creatures?).
I also don't understand people rating it for slow burn or even spice level. There was maybe a hint of smoke for pining and I just didn't feel it at all. I saw many reviews mentioning FBAA and, please, have you seen the amount of smut in FBAA? This book is very YA in a way.

On the other hand, I did love the fact that the book was very inclusive with several interesting gender twists (Lancelot became Lancelet,...), sexuality representation, but also in the diversity of topics which are touched (misogyny, racism, or homophobia). I also loved the tropes such as found family, the tough protective guy who's a softie inside, and of course, the cute sidekick that appears briefly (I love exmoors basically).

In the end: It was an okay read, could have been SO much better for my taste and I'm happy to see many readers loving it! I do see the potential and I think the second book can bring surprises so I'll read it too (with an open mind, I swear!) but I was a bit underwhelmed by this first installment.

Spice level: 1/5 (mostly very slow burn, I'm not not even sure)
There are a lot of trigger warnings

ARC provided by the NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to the publisher, Starwater Press, and Briar Boleyn.

I thought this book was well written..I am still confused by the ending but that is okay.

Basically from my understanding, this book is a retelling of the Camelot situation of old.

But with fae and other odd creatures and many bad guys.

2.5 out of 5 for smut.

3.5 out of 5 for the book overall.

Firstly, thank you to Briar Boleyn (author), the publisher, and NetGalley for very kindly gifting me an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Please note that this review may contain spoilers.

I am a sucker for fairytale re-tellings, and this one definitely lives up to the hype. Queen of Roses follows Morgan Pendragon, the elder sister of Arthur Pendragon (King of Camelot), and rightful Queen. The novel follows Morgan on her journey to locate and recover Excalibur. With fae-twists and delightfully creepy creatures, I loved the twists and turns this book provided. With a Witcher-esque bodyguard, this book has the needed spice and intrigue to make it successful.

My only critique is that I felt that the plot fell of part-way through with the introduction of another character (Vesper) that seemed lacking in the depth I craved, but then again, being bewitched by his musicality (revealed at the end of the novel), does round this off nicely.

Therefore, my star rating of 4.5 stars is rounded to 5. Reminiscent of The Witcher, ACOTAR, and the writing style of Jennifer L. Armentrout, I cannot wait to pick up the next book in this series, and I urge you to as well!

Book Review 📚
Queen Of Roses by Briar Boleyn - 4/5 ⭐

A King Arthur/Camelot retelling with a few twists and turns along the way. The story is a little bit of romance thrown in with some fantasy. Morgan is our female lead who hasn't had the easiest of lives. She is the sister of King Arthur and he sends her on a quest to bring him Excalibur!

The book has a great story line, brilliant writing and characters that you love and hate! Boleyn portrays them incredible that you know exactly how you feel about them.

Character development only improves as the book goes on but the world building is insane. Boleyn goes into such detail within this book and really dives deep with the folklore of Camelot. Overall, I was no disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Starwater Press for allowing me to read this ARC - this is an HONEST review from my own personal opinion.

This is a great read, I know I didn’t read it before it came out but I’m super excited to see what the series holds! This authors writing is so smooth and relaxing it’s hard NOT to get into the story line. Thank you for such great read!

I enjoyed reading Queen of Roses by Briar Boleyn, the first book in the Blood of a Fae series. It is a dark fantasy romance that follows Morgan Pendragon, a princess who is sent on a quest to find a fae weapon of power by her brother, the king. Along the way, she meets a group of outcasts, including a mysterious and attractive fae warrior named Asher, who makes her question her loyalty and destiny.

The book has a lot of things going for it: an intriguing plot, a rich and complex world, a diverse and likable cast of characters, and a slow-burn romance that keeps you hooked. The writing is engaging and descriptive, creating vivid images and emotions. The action scenes are thrilling and suspenseful, and the twists and reveals are well-executed. The book also explores themes such as identity, family, duty, freedom, and love.

However, the book is not perfect. I had some issues with the pacing, which felt uneven at times. Some parts were too slow and dragged on, while others were too rushed and skipped over vital details. I also felt that the book could have used more editing, as there were some typos and grammatical errors that distracted me from the story. Additionally, I found some of the characters to be underdeveloped or stereotypical, such as the evil king, the jealous rival, and the wise mentor. I would have liked to see more depth and nuance in their personalities and motivations.

Overall, I think Queen of Roses is a promising start to a new series that fans of dark fantasy romance will enjoy. It has a lot of potential and I'm curious to see what happens next. I give it 4 stars out of 5.

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

A fun, high fantasy read. I think if I had more than a cursory knowledge of King Arthur and Camelot I probably would have liked this book even more! Still enjoyed it without all the background knowledge. I loved the descriptions of the world and especially loved the representation in this book. We need more of that!

Can’t wait to grab book 2!