Up front I want to thank NetGalley and Briar Boleyn for this ARC! I got the entire series in one go and I couldn't be happier getting to binge all three back to back!

To say I have been enjoying this series is an understatement! The third installment did not disappoint. We pick up with Morgan and Draven being separated from each other but the two still feel their bond between them! I normally am not the biggest fan of separation because I have come to be so attached to the relationship of the main characters but I feel this really helps Morgan's character shine as you see her develop more.

The continuing world building is fantastic and how she can do it within 400 pages is unreal, but what we really need to see more of! I loved how fast paced book 2 was and with this one being a bit slower I actually enjoyed that for a third book so you're not finding yourself with an increased heart rate at all times. I am so thrilled to have read this series and cannot wait for book 4 to release!

Empress of fae is book 3 in this fast paste fantasy/science fiction novel.

Morgan finds herself in this book and realizes what her true heritage is and she embraces it.

4.5⭐️
Another solid, captivating installment in this series! It picks up exactly where book two left off, and throws you right back into the action.
I love the continuing character development of Morgan, as well as the strengthening and development of the relationship between Morgan & Draven. That’s one of my favorite parts about this series, and I can’t wait to see where it goes in book 4.
With Morgan‘s return to Arthur’s court, we get a lot of political intrigue, angst, betrayal, and revenge. We have new enemies, and new allies, and the plot is filled with additional nuances and complexities. Looking forward to seeing how some of these ends are tied up in the next book.
Overall, I am really loving this series!!

Tropes:
Fated Mates
Dark romance
Found family
Revenge
Touch her and die
Prophecies
Unique magic

After the slow burn enemies-to-lovers dynamic in "Queen of Roses" and the spicy, fast-paced intrigue of "Court of Claws," this installment delves into a darker, more complex realm, adding a layer of intensity that feels both necessary and captivating.

The story focuses heavily on political intricacies, moving the overarching narrative forward while keeping readers hooked with its suspenseful undertones. While the tone is noticeably darker than its predecessors, it aligns seamlessly with the evolving storyline, adding depth and nuance to the world of Aercanum.

Unlike the previous book, "Empress of Fae" features a significant separation between Draven and Morgan, allowing the latter to shine in her own right. Returning to her childhood home, Morgan undergoes a powerful transformation from a mistreated and powerless individual to a formidable, badass force. Her character arc and development become central to the narrative, offering readers a compelling exploration of strength, resilience, and self-discovery.

The inclusion of Draven's point of view, a longing fulfilled after two entire books, provides a magical touch to the story. Though limited in chapters, Draven's perspective adds a new dimension to the narrative, enriching the reader's understanding of his character and deepening the emotional connection to the unfolding events.

Boleyn introduces new side characters and delves into the lives of familiar ones, contributing to the vibrancy and complexity of the world. The expansion of the cast not only adds depth to the narrative but also strengthens the overall world-building, making Aercanum a more vivid and immersive setting.
While the separation of the central characters might be a departure from the intense focus on their relationship in the second book, it allows for a broader exploration of the world and its characters. The intricate balance of politics, character development, and mythological reimagining makes "Empress of Fae" a standout addition to the series.

This book was very climatic, given the events that led up to the confrontation in this book. I wasn't bored for one moment! If you're a fan of fae but want something new and refreshing, definitely pick up this series.

Hands down one of my new favourite book series. The series gets better with each book and man the twists in this book 😲 so bloody good. Can't wait for the fourth book.

I have read the first two books of the series and I enjoyed the second book the most in the series. I feel that Morgan is the most useless main character I have come across in a while. She is infuriatingly naive and got on my nerves almost every few pages.

Firstly she forgive her husband - "Mate" I don't know author's obsession with the word mate but I felt it cringy. She forgave Draven so easily when he did so much wrong in the end of the second book.

And then until upto last 15-20 % of the book she does nothing at all. Rather stupidly creates more issues for those who are rebelling against her brother. Meeting Lancelet and Dame hayna was stupid and putting them at risk. She promises to free Lancelet but does nothing really to help her. She can't even fight Fenix, I don't know what was her role in the whole story. I feel that people would have done better if she had been absent in their lives.

Draven who was shown to be driven and possibly good King material just appoints Morgan as Queen in his stead and stops thinking about his own kingdom just to be with his mate. At the start of the book he is shown as whiny teenager not the Draven that was portrayed in first two books. Where is his drive to protect his people, to do some good for the wronged siabra? To become a king his kingdom deserved. Oh no, he can't stop thinking about his mate.

The rebels are almost same, they do nothing at all until last 15-20 % of the book. Apart from one instant where they save another rebel from horrific death, I did not see them helping people of Camelot.

I expected more from this book and once you are so invested in these characters you can't move on till you see a proper finish to their story. So of course I'm gonna read the fourth book as well but I do not have as high expectations as I had from the third installment.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

Book 1: Perfect
Book 2: Perfect
Book 3: Insanely perfect!

God, I loved this book so much. Everything you thought you knew, got swept up in the war of Arthur and everything shifted. Alliances were getting smashed to pieces, betrayal around every corner. I loved it! A lot of characters died unfortunately, that was obviously not cool. But there are also moments where you rejoice because certain characters came back into play. This book was well written and very exciting all the way through. I had a hard time putting it down.

After having spend some time at Dravens court, Morgan decides to go back to her own kingdom and ultimately ends up in very precarious situations. She has to decide what is most important to her. Arthur is her brother, after all. How can someone who you have known for so long, turn out to be so cruel? And how do you live with that?

I am really looking forward to the fourth book!

4 Stars

I’ve really enjoyed this series and this book does not disappoint for me. It continues where the second book left off with Morgan and Draven being separated. The pair still feel their bond strongly between them. They both have struggles to overcome. There’s plenty of drama and politics. I love seeing Morgan and Draven relationships developing and how it slowly pulls them back together.
I like seeing how Morgan develops as a character throughout the book. Draven definitely doesn’t have as much of a staring role compared to previous books but it fits perfectly with the story and plot.
The authors writing style flowed really nicely throughout the book. The world building is fantastic and I loved how descriptive the author is. The plot had a slower pace compared to the previous but I enjoyed it all the same.
Just so readers are aware this is a dark fantasy and does have dark themes.
Please view triggers before reading.

Thank you to Netgalley, the Author and the Publisher for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was a very good continuation of the series. I loved the action and the romance. There were a lot of scenes that had me on the edge of my seat waiting for what would happen next. I’d definitely recommend this series especially if this is your genre style.

Thank you for gifting me this arc. Honestly adored the entire trilogy of books. Would definitely recommend on. Author is so lovely and also followed on good reads too which I think is so nice to see an author interacting with people. Please read these!!!!

I was incredibly looking forward to the sequel. Unfortunately, it wasn't as phenomenal as I had expected. The author's writing style is, as usual, very pleasant and fluid. She writes very vividly. I could totally visualise the scenes. The worldbuilding is also very good.
In this volume, we return to Camelot and meet familiar characters as well as new, sinister figures. The characters are individual and well conceived. They are all unique and all play an important role in the plot. You can understand their motivations and gain an insight into their way of thinking. The development of our protagonist Morgan is a little slow in this volume. She slowly gains strength. It's great to accompany her on her journey. Draven plays more of a supporting role. I absolutely loved the chapters from his point of view and hope to be able to read more from his perspective in the next volume.
Overall, the plot was a little calmer and not so fast-paced, but still exciting.

Morgan and Draven now separated, can feel their bond to each other. Morgan had to go back home to help her friends and family get out of this war, her brother Arthur started. Longing to be back by her side, Draven takes off to be back with her and fight by her side. A long journey ahead for both mates. Struggles lie ahead, but they will try their hardest to get things back to the way they were before.

I couldn’t recommend these books enough! I love that I got to choose this series to be my first real dive into fantasy. I could feel the longing while reading this book. I’ll never be able to say enough about the details and descriptions in Briar’s books. You can feel and dive into every emotion of the characters. I loved every second of this series. I did ultimately guess who the spy was, but I didn’t guess the other part to the spy! I can’t believe I have to wait for the fourth book to come out!

Thank you Victory Editing, Briar Boleyn, and NetGalley for letting me read this series!

Empress of Fae is the third book in the dark romantasy and Arthurian legend inspired series Blood of a Fae and it does not disappoint!

I was already a fan of Draven, and when the author switched to include his perspective and internal dialogue, it only enriched and added to the experience! It was important to understand him better, as he continues to be evasive and keep secrets, we learn so much more about why.

Morgan experiences a gravitational shift in her feelings toward Draven in this book, after adapting to the Court of Umbral Flames in book 2. She had categorically denied and rejected their bond, and the author did a lovely job showing us the journey she took as accepting and believing in it unfolded. We get a ringside seat to Morgan developing her magic wielding and fighting prowess, and that was educational and inspiring to me as a reader. All the court politics, all the interpersonal drama, such sweet moments with Draven, such angst about her friends and her brother, and even more insight into Morgan’s true ancestry are woven expertly into the story, moving it forward and making the reader long for a happy ending for Morgan. I want to tell you more, but… spoilers!!! I promise that you don’t know how this book will end even if you think you have it all figured out. It’s such a great ride, and I’m absolutely dying to read book four, due out in Spring 2024.

Empress of Fae is the third book in the "Blood of a Fae" series which is a dark fantasy romance with a loosely inspired King Arthur retelling with a Fae twist! It picks right up from the cliffhanger in Court of Claws with Morgan vanishing through a portal and finding herself back in Camelot after fleeing the court of umbra flames. Upon arrival in Camelot, she quickly realizes that Arthur's rule of terror has left her younger brother and friends in mortal peril. Meanwhile, Draven won't allow his beloved to disappear from his life so easily. His bond with Morgan goes beyond blood, love, life and even time itself and neither one of them can relinquish its power or its pull. The whole story has more depth than the former books; I am quite intrigued by the twists this book has. I love all retellings of myths and fairytales, and the Blood of a Fae series has been absolutely amazing for me! It remixes so much of Arthurian lore with fae lore in the most perfect way.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for a review.

I was so naive to think this would be a trilogy. I really enjoyed the first two installments, besides their faults, but in this book, things really started to fall apart.

Morgan's sheer stupidity and misplaced trust became more evident than ever to the point where <spoiler> she suspects Dame Halyna, a woman she's know her whole life, but not the creepy priest she barely knows who keeps saying weird stuff and literally usurped her mentor? </spoiler>. She can't for five seconds pretend to be into Arthur's general friend whose name i have forgotten even though it would actively help the rebel cause because I guess she doesn't want to? She immediately vouches for Belisent who she knows nothing but bad stuff about and even actively puts everyone else in danger because... she wants to see things for herself, I guess? She has really become unbearable as a main character.

Not to mention, Camelot seems to be falling in disaster so much so that Lancelot alludes to the fact that starving people are becoming cannibals of the dead to survive, yet Merlin and Co seem to do nothing other than gather information crappily? They have plenty of food, firewood, and space in the temple, but there's not even a mention of the rebels distributing food to the starving, which you would think would be pretty important! They stay in Camelot even though it's not helping anyone, not getting them good information, and doesn't give them the ability to help people. So what's the point of them? Surely it would be more helpful to establish a resistance with strength and support outside the city and use spies rather than everyone stays and are in constant danger and also don't help anyone?

Merlin continues to be my least favorite character, totally venerated by everyone else for her wisdom and wonderful nature, and yet is totally useless even though we learn <spoiler> that she's had magic this whole time. So I guess the child abuse, mass death, and forced cannibalism wasn't enough for you to do literally anything? </spoiler> My dream plotline was that Merlin was secretly evil and assisting Arthur, which would make the uselessness of the rebels make sense, as well as Merlin's lack of interest in helping people. But no.

There are so many more things I could mention from the insanity of making Hawl hanging out with a woman who murdered their kind to Draven abandoning Lystrata to just solve every political problem in his country for him so that he could go kiss a girl. I really think I've reached my limit on this series. It's really sad considering how much I enjoyed the first ones.

Two sad stars, mostly in respect to the previous books.

I enjoyed the suspense of how Morgan would fit back in to Camelot and the relationship between Morgan and Draven even though apart. I would have liked more insight into Morgan’s mind as it seems like she just randomly woke up and decided she didn’t hate him anymore? Kaye felt different?? Not too sure why but I’m interested to see where this is taken in the next book. I felt that it really ramped up the last, maybe, quarter? But could have been a bit faster paced before then in my opinion. I’m glad we got some more insight into Morgan’s past but I need to know more!!!

•ARC Book Review•
Empress of Fae by Briar Boleyn
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and NetGalley for allowing me to review this one!

If you’ve seen any of my other reviews you know I have a HUGE Briar Boleyn fan! And here she goes again! This series is everything a reader could want with spice, fantasy, found family, and heartbreak (the best kind). Her world building and character development never fail to amaze me and she just keeps going. This series as whole captivates you and once it digs its claws into you-we hold on because you’re stuck and will be on the hook for the next book in her dark fantasy series.

Loved this book series and the cover art is amazing. Enjoyed the descriptions and the vivid world and people I was able to envision when reading. I really couldn't put this book down. Highly Recommend.

The third instalment in the blood of a fae series did not disappoint and this one was my favourite by far in the series (I'll say so far until the 4th book comes out this year)

This one throws you straight back into the continuation of the story, So much has changed since Morgan left Camelot, and its heart breaking to see. Arthur is an absolute terror and Camelot appears to be on the verge of collapsing. The rebellion story was intertwined perfectly with the main storyline and even though there was a lot going on I could follow very easily.

Morgan definitely grew as a character in Empress of fae, where previously I had mentioned her naivety she really came into her own this time around and matured.

Draven? No notes *chefs kiss perfection*

This wasn't a five star read for me for one reason - The reappearance of Lancelot - I really don't know why she was brought back, and if you took out her revival there would be no change in the story line, she could have been anyone for what she brought.

This book is a heavier and darker read than the first two and for it I thoroughly enjoyed it more, the last 20% was fantastic, heart breaking and I could not put it down!

Did I imagine this was a trilogy? Ill look forward to book 4!

Thank you NetGalley, Briar Boleyn and Victory Editing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.