Picks up right after book 2 and this is my favorite. I don't know if it's just me, but Book 3 always hits hardest (Prisoner of Azkaban, ACOWAR, House of Flame and Shadow)

Morgan is back with her new friends in Camelot. She finds a lot to be different and Arthur's rule becoming more intense. She is on a journey to bring him down, and new enemies she finds along the way.

I really enjoyed this book! It was a captivating read that held my attention from start to finish. The story was well-paced, and the characters felt real and engaging. I’m grateful to the publisher for providing an early copy—it was a pleasure to read!

This is shocked me to the core. I love the development between the characters, especially the two main characters. The magical system once again keep me guessing out what was the calm. I found that I completely fell for the villain in this book when he ended up being the correct me for the female. I love the twist on a classic Arthur and his round table retelling and I also just enjoy the dark gritty vibe of the book.

Thank you Netgalley and Starwater press for an arc copy in exchange for an honest review :)
Woah this one had me by the throat

- Romance
- Fae
- War
- Magic
- Royals
- M/F romance
- Queer side characters
- Animal companions

This book perfectly continues the storyline, there doesn't feel like wasted space in this book at all. I love the detailed storylines that the side characters in this book get and seeing them interact with Morgan. The development of the romance in this one was superb and I loved every minute of it. The slow burn that started in the first book finally happened.

I cannot wait to see where this story goes.

Morgan learns of the bond with Draven and decides to go drastic. She returns to Camelot via a portal which she in turn destroys. She always intended to return so that she could protect her younger brother. And now that she's back she is going to do whatever it takes to set things right in Pendrath.

Draven isn't going to stand by and do nothing. Just because Morgan left doesn't mean he's going to sit back and wait for her to return. Draven puts someone else in charge while he and Morgan are gone, and he brings as much of an army as he can to Pendrath.

While Morgan and Draven are separated, they find that they can meet in their dreams as long as both are asleep at the same time. This allows them to repair their relationship and plan and keep the other informed as much as possible.

There are a few twists that I didn't see coming. Nothing particularly blew me away though. Morgan can't hide her fae side anymore. She doesn't know how to glamor herself, and she doesn't have time to contact someone who can create a glamor for her. But that still doesn't mean others know how powerful she has become now that she isn't taking the tonic she used to take. They are also unaware she's acquired some extra titles and alliances since she left. She has to play the character that she used to be as much as possible.

Obviously, this book is largely set up for the big bad of Morgan's biological father, the faerie king. But it felt like enough of a wrap-up that I am struggling to move on to book 4, Knight of the Goddess.

Favorite quotes:
-"Shattered or whole. Kneeling or standing. I'll get to her, and I won't ever leave. This time, I'll make her understand what we are, together."

-Bargaining with a devil may grant one many things, but peace was never one of them.

-"You redeemed my life with your own, but you could never take my heart. Love...love must be freely given."

Empress of Fae was a good book. I read quickly and didn't want to put it down when I had to. I liked the growth and development between Morgan and Draven. Some twists caught me by surprise but not too much. In the end, I felt settled enough with things that I struggled to get into the final book, Knight of the Goddess. Empress of Fae gets 4 Stars. Have you read Empress of Fae? What did you think? Let me know!

I love this series. Loved the fact there were lots of different POVs and the development this brought to the story. This doesn’t feel similar to any other series I’ve read!

Thank you Net Galley and publishers for letting me read an arc of this book in return for an honest review.

Wow, this series just gets better with each book. This one was just so sad and captivating with what King Arthur was doing to his own kingdom. He just wanted power at whatever cost. I couldn't put this book down and didn't know who to trust. Morgan was thrown back into chaos upon returning to her kingdom and it was hard to protect all she loved. Fenyx truly didn't get the death he deserved and was even worse than Florian. And we really didn't need the whole Javer plot to the story. He barely spoke, he disappeared for half the book, and then showed up at the end for like 5 seconds. Wasn't needed, but other than that what a powerful and adventurous story. So sad that a powerful fae warrior was bested by childbirth though. I hate how these books end in slight cliff hangers. Now I have to rush into the last book to see how it all ends and wraps up. One final battle that I'm scared my favorite characters won't make it through.

This series frustrated me to no end and I will probably not read the 4th when it comes out. The main character of Morgan just gets increasingly annoying and How is she more unbearable and naive than she was in the 1st book?

Really enjoyed the series, was hooked the entire journey. Was invested in the characters the whole time.

I felt pretty indifferent about this book. While it didn’t anger me like book 2 did, it also didn’t wow me. I love this series—I devoured the first two books and was thrilled to receive ARCs for books 3 and 4. I’m obsessed with our FMC, Morgan (inspired by Morgana from Arthurian myths), and I appreciate how the series is getting darker with each installment.

However, this book stretched a lot of unnecessary plotlines. I found myself frustrated with Morgan; she seemed ignorant and naive, constantly blaming others without taking responsibility. Her delusions and biases were tough to overlook. Despite being a spy in the enemy’s court, she accomplished very little and failed to identify the obvious traitor. The rebels did most of the heavy lifting, while Morgan, the supposed ruler, just pointed fingers.

The pacing felt slow, with the plot not really picking up until the last 20%. Although the stakes were high, no one was actively working to overthrow Arthur. The dreamscape scenes added little value and felt like an excuse for unnecessary content rather than advancing the plot.

Ultimately, I didn’t have the worst time reading it, but I struggled to understand much due to the pacing and the unclear world-building. Thank you to NetGalley and Starwater Press for the ARC!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/179941792-empress-of-fae

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book.
~
This one is a *lot* better than the first two books. It’s still not really my favorite series ever to be honest, but I’m back to semi-enjoying where the story is going.

One thing these books keep doing that I really dislike however, is wrapping up the story at the end and then immediately throwing a curveball to set up the next book. It doesn’t flow naturally for me and I’m finding it very jarring.

I am extremely indifferent to this book. Although it did not make me angry like book 2, it still did not wow me.

In this book we are following Morgan soon after the events of book 2. We are back in her home city and learning about what has happened while she was gone. Very little happened with the plot the entirely of this book almost the 80% mark. The stakes through the entire book felt like they should have been high but no one was doing anything to help overthrow Arthur.

This book also included some dreamscape scenes which did not provide any information to help advance the plot at all and just felt like an excuse to include smut.

Once we finally reached the excitement and final 20%, none of the magic made sense and really felt like this world had no rules.

I honestly didn’t have the worst time reading this book, but I just did not understand most of what was happening because of the pacing and how this world was set up.

Thank you to Netgalley and Starwater Press for the ARC of this book.

I really enjoyed this book much like the rest of the series. Thank you so much Netgalley for an arc of this book. I apologize for the late review.

I love this series. I devoured books 1 & 2 and was so excited to be granted arcs for books 3 & 4. I’m obsessed with our FMC Morgan (based on Morgana of Arthurian Myths) I love that’s the series is continuing to get darker as each book progresses! I cannot wait to read more from this series and Boleyn!

**Title:** Empress of Fae
**Author:** Briar Boleyn
**Rating:** ★★★★★

**Review:**

Briar Boleyn's "Empress of Fae" is a breathtaking journey into a world where magic and intrigue intertwine seamlessly! From the moment I opened the first page, I was swept away by the lush descriptions and vivid imagery that brought the fae realm to life. Boleyn’s writing is evocative and lyrical, immersing readers in a universe teeming with vibrant characters and enchanting landscapes.

The protagonist, a spirited and determined young woman, is expertly crafted and relatable. Her journey of self-discovery, resilience, and empowerment is both inspiring and heartwarming. Boleyn masterfully explores themes of friendship, love, and the quest for identity, making the emotional stakes feel incredibly real. I found myself rooting for her every step of the way, especially as she navigates the complexities of fae politics and her own burgeoning powers.

The supporting cast is equally compelling, featuring a colorful array of allies and adversaries that enrich the story. Each character is well-developed and adds depth to the plot, creating a dynamic interplay that keeps you guessing. The romance is delicately woven into the narrative, providing just the right amount of tension and sweetness without overshadowing the main plot.

The pacing of "Empress of Fae" is impeccable, with twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. Boleyn strikes a perfect balance between action and introspection, ensuring that readers are both engaged and emotionally invested throughout. The world-building is phenomenal, with intricate details about fae culture, magic, and lore that make this fantastical realm feel thoroughly real and immersive.

Overall, "Empress of Fae" is a spellbinding read that captivates from start to finish. Briar Boleyn has created a fresh and original story that will resonate with fans of fantasy. This book is a must-read for anyone looking to escape into an enchanting world filled with magic, adventure, and heart. I cannot wait for the next installment!

Rating: 3 🌟🌟🌟
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️
Trope:
- Fated Mates
- King Arthur’s Retelling
- Fae Romance
- Magic

So, I loved the first two books, but I feel like this book stretches a lot of unnecessary plotlines. I really don’t like the FMC. She is super ignorant, stupid, and keeps blaming everyone else. Not to mention, she is also delusional, prejudiced, and biased. 😤 I liked the first two books, despite mentioning that the FMC is very naive and clueless in the first book.

She is also supposed to be a spy in the enemy's court, but she did nothing and achieved nothing. She couldn’t even figure out the traitor in the group, even though it was obvious from the first time that character appeared. The rebels did everything on their own and executed all the plans themselves, while this “empress” and the supposed ruler of the kingdom just kept blaming everyone in the rebel group. All the plot twists were predictable.

The only thing I love is the romance and Drave’s POV. Honestly, I am so frustrated with this book. 🫠
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for gifting the free e-ARC.

Okay YUP I’m sucked right back in. This was fantastic. Loved the direction the story went, and all the many, many plot twists. Reading this was genuinely like a breath of fresh air!! The main villain was so disgustingly evil, while still being well written and complex! And I felt like the FMC and MMC had the perfect amount of chemistry vs lust in this book. Literally can’t wait but also dreading finishing this series 🥲

ARC Review

Scale information:
1: terrible, awful, I cannot stop ranting about how bad it was; 3: this is exactly what I expect from a book of this genre; 5: I cannot stop thinking about this book, I must own a copy, I will tell everyone to read it.

This book seems to have the same pros and cons as the previous books did; the fantasy world is good, there still seems to be unnecessary character death (or at least, character death that should have been more poignant), there seemed to be a good amount of foreshadowing and no bizarre twists; and I do still wish this was it's own story and not a retelling.

The story did drag a bit more in this book than the previous, but I think the writing style/format has improved over the first book. Some of the character interactions were a bit... off? In a way I can't quite describe. After finishing, I'm less "I must immediately see how the story continues", but will definitely be starting Book 4 later tonight.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Loved "watching" Morgan's power grow and become something almost god like. But also love the grovel from Draven. I love that he leaves his kingdom and fights with her. I love this book so much.

This part of the series is dark; you can tell it from the beginning. Morgan is still mourning the death of Dek and Rychel’s kidnapping, so she jumps from the portal in Myntra to Camelot and burns it so no one will follow her, especially Draven. Morgan leaves with a hollow heart as Draven is left at home, trying to piece together how things have fallen apart.

But one thing is sure: Draven will get his wife if he has to sail the sea to get to her! And I love that part.

The entire series reads like a movie (praying that this dream comes true); therefore, the imagery comes to life as the author details the setting and the experience of living through those times. The book is so action-packed with fighting and drama that the reader is not lacking excitement.

The author does a good job keeping the pace and introducing new individuals without confusing the reader, even with the dark lore of content she provided. The reader feels the gloom, the gore, and the dark surrounding the individuals, the characters, and even Camelot, as Arthur strips us of everything we come to love about the characters and the environment. Also, the surprise element of a returning main character is a surprise I was not expecting. As Morgan’s power grows stronger and stronger and she gains confidence, everything is falling apart around her. She hasn’t lost her friends yet, but they are willing to risk it all. And fight for their life! The drama and the build-up to the end was too juicy! I could not get enough.