⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️

BY THE THREE, I LOVED THIS BOOK!

So, this is a King Arthur/Camelot retelling but ✨fae✨ and I absolutely flew through it!! The story follows Morgan who is sent on a quest to find the sword of Excalibur by her half-brother King Arthur (we hate him 🤢) She's accompanied by two guards - HELLOOO DRAVEN 🤭 He's our broody, sarcastic MMC and I need more of him.

I really enjoyed the history and world-building. The slow burn is SLOW, like minimal but I'm sure it will pick up in the next book after that cliffy 👀 *sigh* I guess I'll be reading 3 books at once this week, because I need to know what happens next!! 😫

This wasn't super dark to me, but I do suggest checking the TW. I've also heard that it gets darker as the series progresses, which is fine by me 😌

𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀:
🥀 Camelot but ✨fae✨
🥀 Broody, morally grey MMC
🥀 Stabby FMC
🥀 Epic quest
🥀 "Who did this to you?" 😏
🥀 Found family

Thank you to NetGalley and Starwater Press for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Actual Rating: 3,5 ⭐️

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It was an interesting take on the legend of King Arthur.

Plot

Cast-off princess Morgan Pendragon's birthright is taken from her when she is a little kid, leaving her with tainted blood. When she grows up, the goddesses will receive her pledge. Morgan grabs the opportunity to escape her destiny when her brother gives her the order to find a fairy weapon of folklore. She is pulled into a gang of misfits headed by a dark warrior while she is traveling. They find a sleeping country that was thought to have disappeared generations ago, awakened by blood, as they confront threats. Morgan comes to the realization that she poses a bigger threat than she had anticipated due to the secrets ingrained in her DNA.

The beginning of the novel was really slow. However after Morgan leaves the kingdom to look for the sword, it became more interesting to read. In general, it was a good novel, but for me, the only thing that is related to king Arthur is basically the name of the characters, but maybe in the future novels the author will add more lore into the story. Some of the twists at the end were good, but most of the time were actually predictable.

Characters

Morgan

The way Morgan was portrayed was interesting. I don't think I have ever read such a sympathetic portray of the character. She had a terrible life, especially because of her father and brother. She is intelligent, brave, and caring. She cares a lot about her younger brother, Kaye and loves the people of the kingdom and tries to help them in every way she can. But, she can also be really naive. She trusts people too easily and I thought that by the end of the novel she wouldn't be as naive as she was at the beginning of the story.

Draven

I like Draven. He is super mysterious and I still don't know who he really is. He is sarcastic, and brute, but maybe he has a soft spot and the reader can see that he cares about Morgan. I wish I can learn more about his true goals in the next installment.

Arthur

This is the second time I have read an adaptation of the Arthurian legend with Arthur being the villain. I really love this concept. Arthur is pure evil, arrogant, and a leader who only cares about himself and his goals. I hate the way he treats Morgan and his younger sibling. In fact, if I was Morgan I would have left the kingdom way sooner. He is truly despicable.

Lancelet

Lancelet (Lancelot) was one of my favorite parts of the novel. In this book, this character is actually a female. I love her so much. She is a wonderful friend to Morgan. She tries to help her in every way she can and she truly cares for her. She is super funny and it was impossible not to like her. I just hope she survived after that horrible ending.

Galahad and Merlin

While they don't appear often, I actually like their portray. In this novel, Merlin is female and is a priestess. Galahad is a young devout man who wants to serve the goddesses. While I liked their characters, they didn't have a lot of time, so I hope to read more about them in the future.

Vesper

I never like Vesper. I can't trust him. There was something about him that I really didn't like.

Writing

The writing was good. I found a few typos, but despite that, I liked the descriptions and the dialogue between the characters. Some descriptions, especially when talking about animal cruelty was a bit too much for me.

World-Building

I world-building seems interesting, but I want the author to expand more about the fae. What happened to them? Why are they basically extinct? I also want to know more about the other kingdoms and the relationship between them and Camelot. However, this is the first book in the series, so I'm sure the author will explore more in the future.

Romance

The main romance is between Morgan and Draven, but it is a slow burn. I love the fact that the author decided to take her time with them. In the beginning, they don't seem to like each other, but during the novel that starts to change. By the end, Morgan views Draven as a good friend and I'm excited to see more of them in the next book.

Final Thoughts

While I had some problems with the book, the story was entertaining and I look forward to see what will happen next.

3.5/5
A much different retelling of Morgan La Fey and King Arthur. I enjoyed the different characters and their differences from the typical Arthurian legend. I do wish they let Morgan not be so damsel in distress when the author built her up to be someone who can defend herself.

Thank you Starwater Press, Briar Boleyn and NetGalley for the eARC!

This was a thoroughly enjoyable and fun fantasy, enemies-to-lovers story with Camelot undertones. A slow burn story with great banter left me excited for more and ready for the next one!

I was sent this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review for a full review see my Amazon and Goodreads pages.

I loved this book I can't wait to read the rest of the series!!!!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐🌟 (4.5 stars)
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️ (2.5 chili peppers)

"Queen of Roses" by Blair is an enchanting start to a series that promises intrigue, romance, and a touch of magic. As a first-time reader of Blair’s work, I was pleasantly surprised by how engaging and well-crafted the story is. The familiar trope of a girl discovering her powers and her true identity is given new life with Blair's fresh perspective and captivating storytelling.

One of the standout elements of this book is the main relationship setup. Without delving into spoilers, I can say that it keeps you on your toes, blending tension and chemistry in a way that’s both exhilarating and heartwarming. The dynamics between the characters are well-developed, and the romance is as tantalizing as it is complex.

The world-building is rich and immersive, drawing readers into a universe where magic and mystery intertwine seamlessly. The plot moves at a good pace, balancing action with character development, ensuring that readers remain invested from start to finish.

While the storyline may seem familiar, Blair’s unique voice and creative twists make it feel fresh and exciting. I appreciated the balance of predictability and surprise, which made for a satisfying and enjoyable read.

Having already started book two, I can confidently say that the series is off to a strong start. "Queen of Roses" is a must-read for fans of fantasy romance, and I look forward to seeing where Blair takes the story next.

This book was fantastic! I've never been a fan of fiction about the fae (I'm not sure why) but this had me captivated! I read it all in one day and LOVED it. The drama, the romance, the action, the banter... It was all top notch. Didn't end the way I had guessed and a bunch of things happened that I couldn't have predicted. This ARC copy one had one error (last paragraph of Chapter 30) but I'm sure this has been fixed now. I'll be diving immediately into the next book (and cursing that I have surgery tomorrow so I can't spend all day reading) and I'm so thrilled about it! Five out of five stars!

Thank you to NetGalley, Starwater Press, and author Briar Boleyn for the chance to read and review Queen of Roses.

I did really love the idea behind this story. I absolutely love retellings of legends and fairytales. Queen of Roses did really well entangling Camelot into this story. What I absolutely loved was the added bonus of fae and mortals! The world building was very well done and I felt transported into Morgan’s world!

I did not love the inexperience and submissiveness of Morgan. She has been through a lot, I was really hoping for major character growth from her. If you are looking for more spice, this may not be your book, keeping my hopes up for book two because I really loved this book. I just needed more from it. I can’t say the same for our bodyguard, morally grey MMC.. he is amazing, and I adore how much he actually cares for her.

Tropes I loved about Queen of Roses:
Broody MMC
Mythical Beasts
Adventure
Touch her and die
Who hurt you
Forced proximity
Guard/princess

This is one of those books that I could not put down! Action-packed, new with a dash of nostalgia (Camelot, but make it with fae), physical and emotional adventures, betrayals, and as promised....it's dark.

We get to meet Morgan, our half-fae, former heir to the throne, and naive-but-you-love-her FMC. This FMC is forever being shoved into decisions that are made for her and pretty much always coming up with the short end of the stick, yet she perseveres. She tries to take control where she can. I love her because everyone has tried to break her, but she still cares, she still has hope, and she still tries.

Morgan is put on a mission to retrieve Excalibur by her evil brother with a mysterious stranger who rose through her brother's ranks curiously quickly.

This story was everything I didn't know I was missing out on and I wanted to keep reading more about Morgan to see what would befall her next and how she would take those situations.

I cannot express how much I adore this FMC. She is kind, but not stupidly so, but she does try and defy where she can because of everything else in her life.

This story is so well written. There is a big, complex world to unfold here. We are bringing in Camelot, mythology lore, the world of the fae, horrible family dynamics, impending war, and some pretty big personal revelations. The world building is done gently and in chunks so it feels gradual and natural rather than an info dump at the beginning.

Overall: highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Starwater Press for the opportunity to read an advanced reader's copy of this book for an honest review.

“Queen of Roses” by Briar Boleyn was an unexpected twist on Arthurian Fantasy!

I really liked several of the characters (especially Morgan and Lancelet) and was impressed that the author took the time to describe and “show” each character so the reader could really get to know them. Unlike some other newer fantasy stories I’ve read, the world-building in this book was thorough, and the story had a great flow with lots of action, mystery, romance, and surprises. I couldn’t finish this book fast enough and am now onto Book 2 of this series. I highly recommend this book for older teens and adults who are looking for a great fantasy series with strong characters, plot, and world building!

I absolutely loved this series! This first book had me hooked from the start, the characters are so lovable which just builds more & more through each book. I’ve loved reading them one after the other and spending each day with them. Definitely recommend to all romantasy fans!

I happened upon this book and was extremely happy when I was accepted to read it, so thank you!

Learning it was a twist of Arthurian retelling with some fae…. I swooned today the least!
It was action packed, full of dark romance, slow slow burn romance and the epic fantasy while we follow Morgan’s journey of self discovery, and all of the twists and turns that set the stage for the future installments. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

Look, I am a bit sick of books being promoted as the next ACOTAR or the next FBAA. It is a cheap way of selling your book I feel, and it just creates expectations. I have also grown out of those two series a bit, I feel, or maybe I'm just a bit sick of seeing books getting compared to them all the time.

I get why they do it here, its a fantasy book with romance and spice, with banter, a deep worldbuilding, a handsome love interest... But its also its own unique thing? Its a King Arthur retelling, for one!

My lower score is probably because I barely read any romantasy lately. I used to love the genre so much, but I fell off a bit. Idk why, it might come back!

Thank you, NetGalley & Starwater Press, for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review!

This book was fantastic! I’m eagerly anticipating the next installment in the series. I liked nearly everything. The characters were beautifully crafted, and I found myself loving (most of) them. I enjoyed traveling around Eskira with Morgan and Draven<3. The book had a "slow" start in terms of worldbuilding, but it was still engaging with plenty happening. Once the journey began, I couldn't put it down and was never bored.
A doomed love, a dangerous mission, and a kingdom on the brink of war... A cast-off princess... Born into a life of duty and sacrifice, Morgan Pendragon’s destiny has never been her own. Rumored to carry the tainted blood of the fae, her birthright is stolen from her as a child. Growing up in the shadow of her brother, the king, she is promised to the goddesses upon coming of age. When her brother commands her to seek out a legendary fae weapon, Morgan seizes the chance to break free from her fate.A dangerous temptation... On her journey, Morgan joins a group of outcasts led by a dark and enigmatic warrior whose sharp wit and fierce beauty captivate her. As Morgan wrestles with her desires and duty, she and her new comrades face dangers beyond their wildest nightmares. A slumbering kingdom awoken by blood...Long believed to have vanished, a fae kingdom dreaded by mortals rises again, intent on reclaiming what was lost through violence and bloodshed. As the fae world’s secrets unfold, Morgan realizes that her own blood carries a greater threat than she ever imagined.

This book was a bit slow to start but I’m not sure if that was just me. Overall, the worldbuilding was interesting as well as learning about all of the main family characters. I am hoping that the fmc develops better as the series goes on but overall this was very fun and I am excited to see where it goes!

I ended up listening to the audio book for this which I normally don’t do for fantasy books so that could have swayed part of my opinion on this book. I enjoyed the world building. It wasn’t over done by any means and I really enjoyed the main male character. I feel like he’s going to be a good book boyfriend.

However. I didn’t really enjoy the female main character. I found her slightly annoying and immature but I think she has potential. Her little fling with another male character was ehhhh for me. It didn’t help that I didn’t like the voice of the girl who did the audio book.

I think for me there wasn’t enough action or excitement to warrant 4 stars but the ending definitely left me with a lot of questions. Which will likely lead me to continue on with the series!! I think it set the stage for the second book to be a lot more interesting. Fingers crossed!

I’ve been obsessed with fae books after a court of thorns and roses. The world building was done well and it was a quick page turner.

I really enjoyed this one, it was a great retelling of King Arthur from an angle I have not seen explored yet.

I did really like the main character Morgan, although she was very naive, and made for an unreliable narrator which at times was frustrating.

There is enough action that I never felt bored reading it, and I am already invested in the next part of the story!

It is marketed as a slow burn romance and this is sort of taking slow burn to the level of almost watching paint dry (at one point I had even given up with the idea they could be more) I can see the potential of it though and would be intrigued to see where the plot heads next.

WOWOW!!! What a fantastic debut novel from Briar Boleyn.

I have never read any fantasy retellings of Camelot, King Arthur, and Excalibur so I was SUPER excited to get my hands on this one.

What I loved:
🗡️ the premise
Camelot, King Arthur, Lancelot, Galahad, Morgan Le Fay, and Excalibur with some gender twists… and why not make them FAE
🗡️the world building and magic and lore
super original lore alongside a great story and very natural world building with some awesome magic
🗡️ nail-biting, stomach-dropping, fear-inducing, heart-pounding action and plot twists
🗡️spice 🌶️
The romance was slooooow burn and honestly it kinda took me by surprise (IYKYK) but it picked up nicely a little over halfway through and she set it up to be super spicy for the next book!
🗡️ good for her moments 💪🏼
Because, yes, he usually deserves it
🗡️ banter
You cant go wrong with enemies to lovers in a one-tent trope 😉
🗡️ the descriptions and imagery
I was totally transported to Camelot and all the other places along the FMC’s quest
🗡️inclusion
Tons of sexualities and races represented
🗡️ A REALLY CUTE SIDEKICK 🐯
(I need 20 exmoors delivered to my house immediately)

🤷🏻‍♀️ My only “criticism” is that the FMC sometimes wondered about things or didn’t see things that were fairly obvious to me. But truthfully I don’t even care. This was an amazing book and it’s getting all 5 stars.

✨ I only wish I knew more about Arthur and Camelot because I’m sure there were so many amazing connections I missed. I recognized some of the names but will have to look them all up after I finish the series!

⚠️ Trigger Warnings ⚠️
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There are so many 😂
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May contain spoilers
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- alcoholism
- domestic abuse
- watching a parent die as a child
- biases and speciesism against fae
- misogyny
- execution of a child
- death in childbirth
- insinuation of rape (none actually occurs)
- abuse and bullying
- homophobia
- murder of children (off page)
- violence and murder
- beheading
- enabling of abuse
- victim blaming
- hunting of endangered species
- physical abuse from father (on page)
- animal on animal violence
- public whipping (off page)
- hanging (off page)
- tyranny

3.5 stars. i read this one a couple of weeks ago and forgot to write a review! i remember being really confused most of the book. the first 50% i was a little bored, but i did enjoy the last half. i unfortunately didn’t like the fmc, she was really naive and she even felt a little dumb sometimes🫠 but i can say, since i’m 70% into the second book, i like her a lot more in the second one