I LOVED THIS! The fantasy and romance was perfect and I loved the characters. The plot twist had my jaw on the floor and I immediately dived into book two. I would definitely recommend this to fantasy fans!

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

This was a really fantastic and great story using the Arthurian legend as inspiration but adding just a little "spice". I love that Morgan le Fey is nor Princess Morgan, a fae (well part fae). *Chef's kiss*. The overall plot of her now having to find Excalibur for Arthur in a old, mysterious fae land was excellent and so enjoyable.

I loved Morgan as a character and really enjoyed seeing her development. I liked that Boleyn did not make her into a damsel i distress, nor an absolut badass. Instead, she made her something inbetween. She is capable of taking care of herself but sometimes she needs a little help.

And Draven...! I like me a brooding, handsome, asshole of a man (well, at least in books). The other characthers also really made the story, and I liked the diversity Boleyn just naturally had in the story.

THE ENDING THOUGH!!!! I was literally gasping and was so thrown by the cliffhanger. So glad I already have the second book so I do not need to wait to read it.

I will say that some of the pacing was a little weird. I felt that the book took a while to get into but when it finally took off, it really took off!

The plot starts out exciting and compelling. I was immediately immersed in the story and was completely hooked until the end. The whole idea and world building is incredible. It reminded me a lot of From Blood and Ash, but I don't think that's a bad thing. The book has so much more to offer. I think it's really great how the Arthurian saga is cleverly incorporated and reinterpreted.
The world building often surprised me. I love the intrigue at court, the dark places on the journey and the creatures we meet. I especially like that they are not the "typical" creatures and monsters, but more unusual ones.
I immediately fell in love with Morgan and Draven. I love their dynamic and how casual they are with each other. They are refreshing characters who have yet to reveal all of their secrets. One thing is foreshadowed, not only Morgan is good for some surprises and hasn't revealed her true nature yet ;). I'm looking forward to learning more about both of them and following their development.
I am absolutely in love with the story, the world, the creatures, the protagonists... .... I highly recommend this book. It's a lot of fun to read and the beginning of a great, exciting journey. I look forward to finding out more in the next volume.

This is my first novel from this author. It is a loose adaptation of Arthurian legend. Characters include Morgan and Arthur Pendragan, Merlin, Lancelet, Galahad etc. All of this with an unlikely pairing of Fae.

I loved the story telling, world building, descriptive parts of this novel. It is definitely what I would classify as a slow burn, with a plot twist that wasn’t what I was expecting. I am hoping that Book 2 answers some of my questions.

For me anything that is either Fae or Arthurian is always a good read.

this was fun and entertaining i enjoyed my time reading the book and found it to be a good take on the arthur retelling

A bit slow at the start but then BAM, it gets a jog on. The untold story of Morgan Le Fey, Arthur and Camelot with a Fae twist. Great story!

4/5

I was obsessed with this book - it's hard to find a good fantasy romance novel for me to get so hooked into, but this was one of them. Highly recommend if you're looking for a fantasy romance.

Morgan Pendragon is a princess kept from the throne by her father Uther then by her younger brother Arthur who becomes king. She is considered to be half fae and therefore to be watched, made to feel lesser and destined to become a priestess in the temple. Merlin and Lancelet are women. This twist on the tales of Camelot sees Morgan going on an epic adventure to find and claim Excalibur for her evil brother. She is accompanied by Vesper and Draven, two very different men who intrigue her, infuriate her and challenge her at the same time. As they face challenge after harrowing challenge, Morgan learns more about the fae, her own abilities, and the pending war.

I wasn’t quite sure I would enjoy this twist on the traditional Camelot tale but it quickly drew me in and kept me engaged. The characters are varied and well developed, the storyline is interesting, and the personal journey of self-discovery Morgan undertakes was intriguing and left me wanting to read the next book to see what would happen to her next and how deep her powers lie. This was a thoroughly enjoyable read.

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

If you are looking for a book similar to king Arthur and the round table, BUT with FAE. Boy do I have the book for you.

This book took me a minute to get into but once it picked up pace I could put it down. I cant wait to read book 2 and see where all that happened at the end takes the main characters. ( The enemies to lovers was really starting to pick up there at the end!)

I recommend checking trigger warnings before reading.

QUEEN OF ROSES ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A classic tale with a twist that made it SO GOOD!!!! The world building in this was incredible, I always appreciate when I can envision it and don’t want to leave. And then add in the love story, I didn’t want it to end! Highly recommend!

Briar Boleyns Queen of Roses is a dark romantasy (please check trigger warnings) inspired by King Arthur and Camelot with a fae / mythology twist.

I could not tell if I loved or hated this book... I did want to yell at the characters a few times or throw the book across the room while giggling and kicking my feet. Draven is the character you love to hate and hate to love. It's an extremely slow burn with top-notch enemies to lovers. Reading felt like I was there with the magic and banter. I love that the author included LGBTQIA+ characters. The tension between Morgan and Draven could be cut with a knife. It's a story of love, adventure, and self-discovery while adding the betrayal and tension that leaves you on the edge of your seat to the very end. I was hooked from the very first page and can't wait to read the second book.
Thank you, NetGallery and starwater Press, for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed, but didn't love, this Arthurian-inspired, slightly unhinged fantasy story. The author took great liberties to create a diverse world (Lancelot's a woman! Cool!) and definitely took liberties with tropes - in a good way. Morgan, our heroine, is a half-fae princess who is no longer able to inherit her father's throne. Her younger brother, Arthur (possibly the novel's flattest character) is set to inherit instead. Adventures ensue. Spice ensues. Very little character development ensues.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC.

"Queen of Roses" by Briar Boleyn is an enchanting historical romance that sweeps readers into a world of elegance, intrigue, and passion. Set against the backdrop of a richly detailed medieval court, the novel follows the journey of a resilient heroine navigating the complexities of power, love, and societal expectations.

Boleyn's prose is as lush as the gardens described in the story, painting a vivid picture of the opulent settings and the characters' emotions. The protagonist's strength and determination are inspiring, as she defies norms to shape her own destiny in a world where women's roles are often limited.

The romance that blooms within the pages is both tender and fiery, with moments of genuine connection that make the reader's heart race. The author masterfully weaves together political intrigue and personal relationships, creating a dynamic narrative that keeps you engaged from beginning to end.

"Queen of Roses" not only offers a captivating love story but also delves into themes of power dynamics, loyalty, and the sacrifices one must make for the greater good. Boleyn's attention to historical detail adds authenticity to the story, immersing readers in a bygone era.

For fans of historical romance, "Queen of Roses" is a must-read that transports you to a world of courtly splendor and emotional depth. Boleyn's storytelling prowess shines in this novel, making it a memorable and satisfying reading experience.

In this gender bending retelling of Camelot, we follow Morgan, part-fae princess. Being first born she should have succeded her father after his death and become Queen of Camelot, but instead that honor was passed on to her younger brother, Arthur. As she prepares for a life dedicated to the temple, she tries to enjoy what free time she has with her two best friends Lancelet, and Galahad. When Arthur tasks her with a mission to retrieve the legendary excalibar sword she is left with no choice when he threatens their younger brother Kaye. Knowing how heartless her brother is, seeing the destruction he has brought to their people during his reign, she takes off with a small traveling party. Consisting of her and two men her brother has chosen she struggles with the medicine she must take to keep her fae features hidden. As they travel she becomes suspicious of the men her brother has hired to protect her. Is this his way of getting rid of her? Faced with threats throughout their journey Morgan must complete her task if she wants to save her brother, and her country.

This was a very interesting read. i enjoyed the writing style and the charactors. I am looking forward to the next books in this series.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publsiher, and the author for and ARC. All opinions are my own

Give me all the Pendragon books. I love anything with an Arthurian legend in the mix and this one did not disappoint. Obviously, this is one with a twist, we are focused on Athur's sister Morgan, who is far more entertaining. Being sent on a quest all but makes everything complete, throw in some Fae and it's a proper quest. I am so excited to get to book 2.

✨Book Review!✨
“Queen Of Roses”
Written By: Briar Boleyn
Published by: Starwater Press
Genre: Romance/Fantasy
•••
Morgan Pendragon is part human, part fae. As the princess of the former king, she should have been the next in line for the throne. But instead, it was given to her brother. Her brother became king after her fathers death and has shown himself to be cruel, irrational and unforgiving. He sends Morgan on a deadly mission to obtain the sword called Excalibur. This sword gives the wielder power to win any war, so it’s no surprise he will go to any length to obtain it. What Morgan doesn’t know, is why she has to be the one to obtain it for him.
•••
To Morgan’s dismay, the two men accompanying her on this trip are ruthless and deadly all on their own. She soon realizes that the mysterious Draven, may not be exactly what she expected. As their travels continue, she will find out exactly who he is and what this mission truly requires of her.

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

Morgan is a princess who is rumored to be half fae. She is sent on a mission by her brother, King Arthur, to find Excalibur. With the help of two royal guards and some friends she meets along the way she succeeds but not everyone turns out to be a friend.

The twist at the end had me quickly starting the next book in the series! This is a very, very slow burn. In fact, this book had very little steam so I’m excited to see what happens next. Thank you Netgalley and Starwater Press for the egalley in exchange for my honest review.

So I went into this not knowing much about anything and was immediately brought into a beautiful and insane world of fae. I always love princesses going rogue and this one took you by the horns and really threw you around in terms of plot and world building. Loved and was obsessed with it all the whole time. Cannot wait till book 2.

This was a really interesting read. I liked the reimagining of a classic story a lot! I did feel that Morgan (the heroine) could be a little stubborn at times but the story was overall captivating. There was a lot of world-building near the end that took some time to wade through but it was well thought out. The male bodyguard trope has been done before but the new take on an old story plus the chemistry between the two main characters kept things interesting. Overall a great read if you love fantasy romance!

I'm giving it a 4/5 but it was more of a 3.5/5.

A really good entry into fantasy. When advertised as being for lovers of Holly Black, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and Sarah J. Maas, the book has big boots to fill. Unfortunately, those boots are a little too big. The main storyline is intriguing and different enough that I wanted to know how it ends and I will likely read the rest of the series. This feels like a good introduction into fantasy for people that don't read it often as it is a bit more simplistic. It could have done with a bit more character development and worldbuilding but I may just be picky as I read so much fantasy.

It was a good book, interesting and I liked it. I can't wait to see what the next book has in store.

Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.