It was alright. I found most of the story a little boring.

I did enjoy meeting Nightclaw and the last 30 % of the book had me hooked but that first 70% was pretty slow, and with the long chapters it did take me a while to get through!

I will be reading the next book though! I am intrigued enough that I need to know what's going on.

This book wasn't as engaging as book one of the series, but I still enjoyed it overall. The world expanded quite a bit. Some of the character development felt lacking, but I did really like the new characters we were introduced to. The trial games kept things interesting and kept the pace moving along. Overall, I'm still planning on continuing the series, and I'm interested to see where the plot goes from here.

I’m devouring this series!!

The plot had me hooked from the get-go, with so many twists and turns that I couldn’t put it down. Each new revelation pulled me deeper into the mystery. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, bam—a cliffhanger that left me scrambling for the next book. Totally gripping and a must-read!

Book 2 feels like a move away from the Arthurian legend, where we’re more focused on Draven’s world than Morgan’s. I liked the world building, I think the author does a good job of giving you a lot of details without it being too much. Her descriptions also really helped me, as a visual reader, picture the palace and world of Myntra.

What I liked: learning more about Draven and his world, you get hints of there being more to him in book 1 and how it played out here I liked. We’re introduced to more magical creatures, some parts took me by surprise which at first I didn’t think I was enjoying but actually was once I gave them a chance. Some of the new characters are likeable and I liked all the new magic which is a much heavier feature in COC.

What I didn’t like so much: I’m still a little irked by Morgan’s character, I actually like Draven more at this point even though his skirting around questions and giving truthful answers got quite annoying. Also the problematic secret marriage thing…I just feel like Morgan is very hot and cold, she doesn’t really stick to her guns for long and it took up a bit too much space for my enjoyment. I also, sadly, wasn’t that bothered by the trials. I think they had more potential but they felt a bit too quick - especially the final one which I had hoped would be Morgan’s badass reckoning and it fell a bit flat.

Overall I still enjoyed the book, I’m invested in how it’ll further develop and I am looking forward to get back to Camelot and hopefully see Morgan’s character start to grow. This is another 3.5⭐️ but rounded up to 4 for this rating, there is still just some lacking oomph for me.

A review has been posted to Goodreads, I plan to also share a consolidated review on my instagram once I finish the series.

"Briar Boleyn's 'Court of Claws,' the second installment in her captivating fantasy series, delves deeper into a world of intrigue, magic, and political machinations. Building on the foundation laid in the first book, Boleyn expands the realm of mystical creatures and human courtiers, weaving a tale of power struggles and personal discovery.

In 'Court of Claws,' protagonist Aria continues her journey amidst the complex dynamics of courtly life. Boleyn's writing remains immersive and evocative, vividly depicting the lush landscapes and intricate court politics that define the series. Aria's growth as a character is palpable, as she confronts new challenges and uncovers deeper layers of the realm's history and her own lineage.

The novel excels in its portrayal of alliances and betrayals within the court. Boleyn deftly navigates the relationships between characters, each with their own ambitions and secrets, adding layers of tension and suspense to the narrative. As Aria navigates these treacherous waters, her alliances are tested, and she must make difficult choices that shape her destiny.

Boleyn's world-building remains a highlight of the series, with magical elements seamlessly integrated into the story. From mythical creatures to ancient prophecies, 'Court of Claws' expands the scope of the series while maintaining its sense of wonder and mystery.

Overall, 'Court of Claws' is a compelling continuation of Briar Boleyn's fantasy series, offering readers a rich tapestry of adventure, intrigue, and character development. Fans of epic fantasy will find themselves eagerly immersed in Aria's journey and the vibrant world Boleyn has crafted."

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Blood of a Fae is a dark fantasy romance series ~ second book Court of Claws
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the Arc to this book.
This book was in my opinion much better than the first of the series. It continued the story without spending most of the book recapping the previous which I appreciated. I began to feel more invested in the characters and the decisions they made.
I feel like this book could have moved into the 4/5⭐️ rating if it was duel POV. There is so much in the book that would have been good to read from the MMC perspective.
This book also leaves readers on a cliffhanger. I personally will be taking a break from this series however plan to return to them in the future.
Trigger warnings:
Abduction
Abuse
Cannibalism
Death
Violence
Gore

This was a lot stronger than book one, in my opinion and therefore I liked it a lot more. There was time for Morgan and Draven to be in each other's presence and for the readers to get to spend time with them, which allowed us to witness the chemistry building far more than we were given the chance to experience through book one.

I will say this series has every trope under the sun. Guard who turns out to be prince in disguise? Check. Unexpected powers? Check. Forced proximity? Only one bed? Fake dating - or so she believes? Check. The list honestly goes on and one. Them being mates. Surprise we're married. I'm pretty sure there's even a "who did this to you." Though that may have been in the last book with Florian. Basically, there are times in which it feels as if this series is relying on the tropes we love so much <i>more</i> than the actual story being told.

I think that's probably why I'm keeping this at four stars. Well, that and the fact I still think some of the progression of their relationship is lacking a little. It's not the chemistry. I do think Morgan and Draven have great chemistry. But I also think this book is very focused on moving the plot along (good for it, tbh, so many books suffer with that) that sometimes the character - and relationship - development suffers. So instead of really getting the signals that Draven is falling in love, we simply get his proclamation. And maybe it's supposed to be a bit jarring. But I think the story could have shown the readers without Morgan catching on.

All of this sounds like I'm complaining about this book, but I'm really not. I love tropes. I love Morgan and Draven. I'll definitely finish the series. I just... don't expect to be obsessed.

This story was really fast paced and action packed. I appreciated getting some more of the romance of this book, which brought a new layer of depth to the story. This book was a great continuation from the first book. Thank you Starwater Press for sending me this book.

I am impressed with how the plot has gone and blasted into new territory with new challenges and people to focus on. The story just starts after the point it ended in the first book and becomes more interesting. The pacing is still slow for my liking but it covers a lot of ground and gives quite a handful of information about the ongoing circumstances.

The relationship between Morgan and Draven goes high and low and it’s quite a journey but the ending is fabulous. It ends on a cliffhanger and I am eager to know what happens next and how Draven will deal with it all. The writing is nice and the additional characters bind the story together prettily to make me stick to reading.

It’s a 4.25⭐️ for me.

This one was even better than the first one! I loved the change of scenery, and Draven? Chefs kiss! He was willing to sacrifice so much for Morgan. The trials were awesome and kept me in the story! I was on the edge of my seat waiting for the next book.

This book is completely different from the first one. A complete different story, characters and land. And… I liked it.
The story though was a little predictable, but still enjoyable. I didn’t feel much chemistry between Morgan and Draven, not much chapters in which they interact and you can feel there’s something between them. And then something happens, and doesn’t feel completely right.
I like Morgan as MFC. She’s strong and doesn’t let people tell what she has to do, but she’s willing to sacrifice everything for the people she cares about.
I wanted to see more of the other SC, they were really nice to read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Briar Boleyn for this Arc

Book two in the four book series, this was incredible! I did really enjoy the continuation. This book focuses a lot on the enemy to lover relationship of Morgan and Draven. This book took me on an adventure that brought forth so many emotions. A great read

🗡️🗡️Book Review🗡️🗡️
#courtofclaws by @briarboleynauthor
🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀

Let the #fae Queen begin her 2nd journey of self-identifying in book 2 of a 4 novel series! There are triggers, but the spice is now at 🌶️🌶️ and getting better!
“Court of Claws is a fantasy dark romance novel that follows the story of Morgan Pendragon in the Siabra World! This is Dravens World! The best parts of book two were the moments she and Draven were working together. 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 complicated journey Morgan follows in developing her magical skills and in her feelings for Draven kept me reading! The war being waged by Camelot also weighs heavily on Morgan’s mind and she yearns to return to help her people"

It’s an adventure with beautiful moments that will make your heart soar and sadistic moments that will make you wish for the worst to befall some of the characters. The world-building is incredible, with a richly detailed Fae world that is both brutal and alluring. The characters are well-developed, with complex motivations and backstories that add depth to the story. The writing is engaging, with a captivating plot that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author/publisher for providing this free copy in exchange for an honest review!

Somehow, I ended up liking this book even more than the first one. I'm seriously hooked on this series, and I can't wait to start book #3!

I'm honestly so glad I took a chance and dove into this indie fantasy. This book took the momentum from the first book and ran with it! The tension and spice between Morgan & Draven absolutely exploded (I won't say more, for fear of spoilers). I fell even more in love with Draven, if that's even possible. And Morgan was just as frustrating (but also growing along the way)--but for me, that just added to the story and the drama. The vibes are on point with this series, and I'm just having a lot of fun reading it.

That said, I still remain totally impressed by Briar Boleyn's writing--she's got some serious writing chops. Her writing is so immersive, and especially with everything that takes place in this installment, I can't get over how creative this story (and the world she created) is!

I'm being intentionally vague with this review, but suffice it to say, if you are a fan of romantasy, you NEED to read this series. It is well worth it. These books are quick reads, and perfectly atmospheric, so if you're looking for a story to get lost in, look no further than the Blood of a Fae series!

I did not enjoy this as much as the first one but it was still good. The characters were so immature and infuriating at times. The world building was still good. This was entertaining nonetheless but a bit far fetched.

I never thought romantasy would be a genre I would enjoy so much, but I tried this series by Briar Boleyn and I loved it even more than ACOTAR! The FMC development is remarkable and a “shining” example of what a strong and feminine female can be. This series is currently my favorite recommendation to share with friends and acquaintances! It does have a couple of spicy scenes in each book, but I would say they are easily skippable if that isn’t your vibe. The books are smart and sassy, and skipping the spicy parts doesn’t detract from the story in any way.

<b>ARC Review</b>

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

I'm really annoyed with the ending, unnessecary character death at the end of the book <spoiler>Beks (adding more text here so it isn't obvious who based on name length)</spoiler>. It really wasn't needed for the story and it wasn't even handled on screen. Felt like it was just for shock value, or the author didn't want to have to deal with the character in Book 3. The conversation between the MCs could have happened with grevious injury.

Overall this story did keep my attention during my binge reading sessions - though I'm not sure how compelled I would have been to keep coming back for multiple reading sessions across days or weeks. I'm currently training for the PanAm Masters Games in like 3 weeks, and legitimately considered skipping practice to keep reading. So definitely a binge-able book.

Again, this book did well with foreshadowing: nothing felt too shocking or out of place (minus the character death at the end of the book). Regarding tropes: it did feel a lot more like a rehashing of other books in the romantasy genre, as opposed to just leaning on tropes. I hope the other books in the series don't continue this trend: this was a bit more than I'm willing to be happy with.

So far I plant this series firmly in the "no thoughts, head empty" fantasy camp, and will recommend it alongside FBAA for those who sometimes want their books with plot, action, and not a lot of thinking needed. Quick reads ftw!

<i>I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.</i>

This one was even better than the first one! I loved the change of scenery. I love Draven. He was willing to sacrifice so much for Morgan. The trials were awesome and kept me in the story! I was on the edge of my seat wanting more!

3.5 stars
It was an engaging read overall, although a few things didn't sit very well with me. The first one being it reminded me so much of the first and second books of ACOTAR series with the trials for throne and Morgan having to "pretend" to be Draven's consort.
We didn't get to see Morgan gaining proper control over her power up until the end of the book which was very convenient given she didn't even train properly.

Big thanks to Starwater Press, Briar Boleyn and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions!

I really enjoyed the first book, as it laid out the foundation for the rest of the books and especially the world building and understanding the religious beliefs and its evolution.

What might throw off some readers was the complete change of scenery for this second book, but in my case it didn’t bother me as much as it might have. I enjoyed learning about more characters (that are important for the rest of the story and especially getting to know where Draven comes from!).

If you’re into trials, like ACOTAR or the serpent and the wings of night, you’ll certainly enjoy some parts of this book, but I did feel like it was once again too short.

The romance and spice are starting to happen, but it’s nothing compared to what comes in the following books which is fine by me, the tension is building up !

I usually feel like I can tell where the story is going quite quickly, but I’ll have to admit I had no idea how this whole series would end. Like the first book, I’d say that it’s very entraining and I was excited to read book 3.